Communal Cooperation in Sensor Networks for Situation Management

• Published in: 2006 9th International Conference on Information Fusion pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Jones, K.H., Lodding, K.N., Olariu, S., Wilson, L., Chunseng Xin
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.07.2006
• Subjects: Aerodynamics; Biosensors; Computer network management; Computer science; Crisis management; decentralized action; Disaster management; Financial management; local control; massive deployment; NASA; Research and development management; Sensor networks; ubiquitous input; Vehicle dynamics
• ISBN: 1424409535; 9781424409532
• DOI: 10.1109/ICIF.2006.301774

Situation management is a rapidly evolving science where managed sources are processed as realtime streams of events and fused in a way that maximizes comprehension, thus enabling better decisions for action. Sensor networks provide a new technology that promises ubiquitous input and action throughout an environment, which can substantially improve information available to the process. Here we describe a program of NASA that requires improvements in sensor networks and situation management. We present an approach for massively deployed sensor networks that does not rely on centralized control but is founded in lessons learned from the way biological ecosystems are organized. In this approach, fully distributed data aggregation and integration can be performed in a scalable fashion where individual motes operate based on local information, making local decisions that achieve globally-meaningful effects. This exemplifies the robust, fault-tolerant infrastructure required for successful situation management systems