| | ||||
| |
| | |
E-Science
The e-Science activities are exploring the ways in which diverse types of mobile and distributed sensors and devices, connected to a large scale distributed computing infrastructure (the 'grid'), can support new forms of scienitific enquiry. Our particular emphasis is on medical and environmental research that involve a significant field-based component.
|
| |
| | ||||
The current vision of e-Science, in which scientists access and share data on a global scale supported by a grid of high performance computing and networking, was first proposed in the mid 1990s. It has developed rapidly since then. However, some critical bottlenecks need to be addressed if e-Science is to realise its full potential. One of these is the user interface. The ability to deliver information to scientists needs to be matched by powerful new interfaces that allow them to manipulate and share this data in new ways, from any location whether in the lab or in the field. Another bottleneck is data acquisition. Current labour intensive approaches to observation and measurement need to be enhanced with automated capture and sensing technologies that deliver more detailed, timely and continuous data.
Equator's e-Science projects combine distinctive EQUATOR devices, technologies and conceptual approaches with grid-based technologies to address these limitations in current e-Science infrastructures. They bring together researchers in a variety of disciplines as part of the national e-Science programme.
Within environmental science there are two application areas that involve collaborative visualisation of scientific data, mobile access to data and capture of data from sensors deployed in the physical world. One focuses on the urban polution monitoring while the other involves studying the carbon cycles in fresh-water lakes in one of the most hostile environments on the planet, the Antarctic.
In partnership with the Medical Images And Signals (MIAS) IRC are developing technologies to extend the reach of the grid making it facilities directly available to allow mobile patients to be continuously monitored and analysed using wearable medical sensors. These devices monitor the health of their wearer and send a series of medical signals to the grid using wireless technology.
Featured Projects
|
The Antarctic Lake Carbon Cycling project
In a collaboration between the Australian Antarctic Division Equator and the UK eScience programme the Antarctic project concentrates on developing and extending Grid infrastructure for access ‘in the field’ by supporting the study of carbon cycling in Antarctic lakes, This has involved two researchers travelling to the Antarctic to set up a monitoring device on the frozen Crooked Lake which then makes the information it collects available on the Grid.
|
|
Mobile Medical Monitoring
The Grid Based Medical Devices for Everyday Health is a joint project with the Medical Images And Signals (MIAS) IRC researchers as part of the UK eScience initiative. The project is developing new forms of medical devices to allow patients to be monitored using the Grid.
|
|
The Urban Pollution Monitoring Project
Current pollution monitoring systems
use small numbers of fixed sensors that report multiple types of
pollutant. We have built a number of mobile sensing systems that give a
broader and denser picture of how pollution affects urban spaces and
the people within them
|
|
Advanced Grid Interfaces for Environmental Science
This project allows scientists, students and members of the public to visualise air quality information in context. Details of both current and historic carbon monoxide (CO) levels are shown on an interactive map that may be accessed by multiple users. This allows each person both to envisage CO levels and to add readings from their immediate location to the visualisation.
|
|
The Public Understanding of e-Science and SENSE projects
These related e-Science projects involve teachers, learners and environmental scientists in exploring how Grid technologies, remote and portable sensors can be used to support the study of an Antarctic lake and urban pollution in school science.
|
|
