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The PermaSense Project. Executive Information. The PermaSense Project in a Nutshell. Monitoring the environment with many cheap, battery powered, wireless sensors New frontiers in understanding alpine permafrost and global warming Spectacular application for cutting edge technology.
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The PermaSense Project Executive Information
The PermaSense Project in a Nutshell • Monitoring the environment withmany cheap, battery powered, wireless sensors • New frontiers in understandingalpine permafrost and global warming • Spectacular application for cutting edge technology
PermaSense Funding • Project started in 2006 under the auspices of the National Competence Center in Research - Mobile Information and Communication Systems; a large, Swiss funding body for research on future wireless and sensor systems • Other funding sources include governmental agencies interested in the application of the results • Extension is ongoing with a new nano-tera.ch grant • Funding for the next 3 years operation is currently secured
Some Notes About the Team • Unique collaboration of computer science (engineering) and geo science • All members are very idealistic, with a strong affinity to nature and mountain sports • Different kinds of backgrounds, often in unconventional combinations: Geography and electronics, computer science and mountain guiding, mathematics, etc. • Core team of about 7, with helpers, friends and advisors totaling to about 20 people involved
Management and Network • Co-leadership of all day to day business • Stephan Gruber, Uni Zurich - Geo science • Jan Beutel, ETH Zurich - Technology • Management and advisory committee • Experience senior faculty and researchers, public authorities, policy makers • Network of related research projects • Sponsors and industry partners • Technology makers, local support on field sites • Equipment sponsors Hilti and Arc'teryx
Media Attention • A hot and scenic topic • Regular attraction of different media • Print, radio, television
Future Plans - The next couple of years • The real science (data analysis) starts now • Extensions from currently simple sensors to complex modes of sensing (images, seismic, large-scale slope movements) are under way • New application contexts - new field sites • Concrete natural hazard scenarios in the Alps • Greenland, Svalbard, Antarctica, … are under discussion
Some Notes About Myself • Jan Beutel • born 1973, grew up in Germany, Austria, Saudi Arabia, US • MSc, PhD in electrical engineering (ETH Zurich, UC Berkeley) • Certified ski instructor (ISIA) and alpine mountain guide (IFMGA/UIAGM) • Lived and roamed in the mountains all my life • Home base in Zurich (CH), Pitztal and St. Anton/Arlberg (AT) • Alpine guiding for alpincenter-lech.at • Expedition to Gasherbrum II, summited alpine style, July 2006
Some Personal Reflections on PermaSense • The project has created and released an enormous amount of energy and dynamics. • The overarching topic (global warming, natural hazards) is both timely and sustainable. It’s a current and hot topic. • For myself, bringing together both profession (engineering) and passion (mountains, guiding) is like a dream has come true. • I believe that with our technology we can give a new (previously unheard of) tool or methodology to environmental scientists enabling them to assess contexts that are otherwise not accessible. In doing so on a topic of interest and importance to society, my motivation is doubled.