X-SENSE: Sensing in extreme environments

The field of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is now in a stage where serious applications of societal and economical importance are in reach. For example, it is well known that the global climate change dramatically influences the visual appearance of mountain areas like the European Alps. Very destructive geological processes may be triggered or intensified, impacting the stability of slopes, possibly inducing landslides. Unfortunately, the interactions between these complex processes is poorly understood. Therefore, one needs to develop wireless sensing technology as a new scientific instrument for environmental sensing under extreme conditions. Large variations in temperature, humidity, mechanical forces, snow coverage, and unattended operation play a crucial role in long-term deployments. We argue that, in order to significantly advance the application domain, it is inevitable that sensor networks be created as a quality scientific instrument with known and predictable properties, and not as a research toy delivering average observations at best. In this paper, key techniques for achieving highly reliable, yet resource efficient wireless sensor networks are discussed on the basis of productive wireless sensor networks measuring permafrost processes in the Swiss Alps.