2006 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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Dublin City University
Ruth Lennon
Monitoring with an environmental nervous system

The SmartCoast project represents an important building block in the realisation of an 'environmental nervous system' composed of multiple sensing nodes deployed as a 'sensor-net' capable of monitoring the spatial and temporal distribution important environmental target species as prioritized in the Water Framework Directive . This ambitious vision is a fundamental element of the emerging concept of 'internet scale sensing'. The project brings together a unique consortium consisting of teams from two of the largest and most relevant University research centres, the National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR) at Dublin City University, and the Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork, together with an SME prototype development company Microelectronics Applications Centre (MAC), Limerick, a specialist SME already operating in the water quality monitoring area (Marine Informatics), and two end-users (Marine Institute and South West Regional Authority), in a focused programme of research that will contribute to establishing Ireland's reputation as a location for developing futuristic solutions to water quality monitoring issues. The sensor development is taking place at the NCSR, focussing mainly on dissolved oxygen and nutrient sensor technology.


Network of an intelligent system of pilot sensors to measure and relay conservative, physiochemical water quality parameters

By coupling these sensors with network expertise of MAC and interfacing technology of Tyndall we aim to provide a unique monitoring tool for the assessment of water quality, for local authorities and other stakeholders. Together with issues of power consumption and cost of the devices, new antifouling approaches to protect sensors in the field are also being investigated. The project is managed by Dr Fiona Regan at the NCSR and is funded by the Marine Institute and the Environmental Protection Agency under the National Development Plan.



See http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/water-framework/index_en.html

See 'Internet Scale Sensing', Dermot Diamond, Analytical Chemistry, 76 (2004) 279A-286A.

For further information contact: Dr Fiona Regan,
National Centre for Sensor Research, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
Tel: + 353 1 7005765. Fax: + 353 1 7005503
E-mail: [email protected]