1. Olin Hall test deployment (Olin 1)

• Objective: Test first generation sensors
• When: April 2005-August 2006
• Where: Johns Hopkins University campus near Olin Hall, Baltimore, MD   [ MAP ]
• Habitat: Urban forest/wetland interface, slope, near stream
• Senor Network Details:
  1. 10 MICAz motes
  2. One soil moisture sensor per mote (Watermark, Irrometer), at 10 cm depth
  3. Three motes had soil temperature sensors (Irrometer) placed at 10 cm depth
  4. Other data collected: mote internal temperature, light intensity
• Weather Data: from Baltimore Washington International Airport (website)

This was our first deployment, designed to test our first generation motes. We collected data once per minute, for a total of 125 MB. The test data we collected here led to a new generation of soil moisture sensors, and showed that collecting data once per minute was not necessary. The lessons learned here were applied to future deployments.

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2. Leakin Park

• Where: Leakin Park, Baltimore, MD   [ MAP?? ]
• When: ?
• Habitat: urban forest (oak-tulip poplar); near Baltimore Ecosystem Study permanent plots
• Senor Details:
  1. Six motes (MICAz Motes)
  2. Two soil temperature sensors (5 and 15 cm) (Irrometer) per mote
  3. Two soil moisture sensors (Watermark, Irrometer) at 5 and 15 cm depth per mote
  4. Other measurements: box temperature, light intensity
• Data collection frequency: every ten minutes
• Amount of data collected: 45 MB

For our second deployment, we had several goals. First, we wanted to compare our sensor technology to the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES)'s data collection protocol and equipment. Thus, when choosing a location, we deiced to test the sensors in Baltimore's Leakin Park, an area used by BES.

Second, we wanted to monitor background conditions for leaf litter decomposition experiments. We wanted to know the contribution of soil organisms to leaf litter, and how leaf litter disappears. Last, we wanted to study how much soil moisture and soil temperature vary over on a medium scale.

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3. Jug Bay

• Where: Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Anne Arundel Co., MD   [ MAP ]
• When: June 2006 - present
• Habitat: Upland forest – meadow edge
• Sensor Details:
1. Three motes (TELOSB)
2. Two soil temperature sensor per mote (lab manufactured), one each at top and bottom of the incubating eggs
3. Two soil moisture sensors (ECH2O-EC5, Decagon), one each at top and bottom of incubating eggs
4. Other measurements: box temperature, box humidity, light intensity, PAR (photosynthetically active radiation)
• Data collection frequency: every ten minutes
• Amount of data collected: 10 MB (so far)
• Weather data: harvested from nearby NOAA weather station (website)

For our third deployment, we used new second-generation motes. With the use of these motes, we are monitoring the soil temperature and the soil moisture of the area in which the Easter Box Turtles lay their eggs. We want to know what effects, if any, the soil temperature or the soil moisture has on turtle egg incubation One of the major successes of this deployment is the wireless communication of data from the sensors (which are located on the motes) to data-collecting computers. Such wireless technology grants us the benefit of not having to go into the field frequently to collect that data. Such fieldwork would disturb the very environment where we are conducting experiments, which may adversely affect our data. Through this deployment, we are testing this wireless network on the second-generation motes. This deployment is still active.

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4. JHU campus near Olin Hall

• Where: Johns Hopkins University campus near Olin Hall, Baltimore, MD   [ MAP??? ]
• When: November 2007 - present
• Habitat: urban forest (beech, tulip poplar)
• Sensor Network Details:
1. 9 TELOSB motes
2. Two soil temperature sensors (lab-manufactured) at 5cm and 15 cm depths
3. Two soil moisture sensors (ECH2O-EC5, Decagon) at 5cm and 15 cm depths
4. Other measurements: box temperature, box humidity, light intensity, PAR
• Data Collection Frequency: every ten minutes
• Amount of data collected: ???
• Weather data: harvested from BWI (website); as of April 1 2008: Our own weather station on the roof of Olin Hall

For our most recent deployment, we placed ten sensors in a 10 x 10 meter area. These sensors will monitor soil temperature and soil moisture, helping us answer questions about the behaviors and activities of soil organisms.

Furthermore, this deployment is a part a larger three-tier project, which includes two other locations on the JHU campus. The deployments at these two other sites will include a similar setup, and will be completed by late spring 2008.

In this three-tier project, we are once again testing second-generation motes. These motes allow wireless communication of data from the sensors (which are placed on the motes) to a special data-collecting computer in Olin Hall. To help improve the quality of the data transmitted, our primary goal for this deployment is to test the improved communication features between the sensors and the computer collecting the data.

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