December 2004
Ontario research to help revolutionize data use worldwide
Sensor Grid - new "skin" covering the Earth
An Ontario researcher and his team are drawing international attention with new technology that helps integrate data from a growing global grid of remote sensors - a new and intelligent “skin” around the planet that is revolutionizing the way we interact with each other, here at home and on a global scale.
Dr. Vincent Tao - Canada Research Chair and an Associate Professor in Geomatics at York University, directs the York Geospatial Information and Communication Technology Research Lab, which has developed groundbreaking satellite mapping technology that enables users to visually zoom in on – or fly over – any place on the planet in real time.
Called SAME (See Anywhere – Map Everywhere), it is an Internet-based technology that provides 3-D imagery with ground resolution of a half-metre – close enough to identify the make of an automobile.
Integrated smart sensor devices, computers, wireless communication networks, and intelligent software agents now cover the planet with an ever-expanding Sensor Web, an interconnected network of sensors that is re-shaping the way we collect data and use and distribute information.
"I believe that Sensor Grid will have a profound impact on the way the sensors are used and on the sensor research and business,” says Dr. Tao. Monitoring, surveillance and mapping of critical infrastructure sites and regions around the world are the most obvious potential uses of this technology, while the span of potential applications is quite broad, including defence, emergency response, environmental monitoring, telecommunications and urban planning.
Dr. Tao’s work – geomatics engineering – utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing and positioning and navigation systems to develop geospatial information technology.
SAME integrates data from different satellites, web sites, traffic cameras, mobile graphing data and a multitude of other “sensing” databases.
The program captures the most remote pictures of the earth from a NASA satellite, and as the program zooms in further, the feed switches from one source to another to provide more and more detailed images.
“I am able to pull out images at multiple resolutions from multiple remote servers, and see them all on my laptop,” says Dr. Tao, who notes he has used the technology to reconstruct three-dimensional images of a nuclear facility in North Korea. “This gave international inspectors a lot of power to really look at those nuclear sites.”
Modern geomatics is a Canadian invention that has spawned an industry generating over $2 billion in products and services annually, and employing a workforce of approximately 30,000.
Dr. Tao asks us to visualize the impact of geomatics technology employed on a global scale, “where sensors monitoring traffic, weather, water and seismic variations are all connected to a central processor. It would provide an unparalleled opportunity to use that data for disaster preparedness and relief.”
It’s a compelling vision for the research community, business and governments alike, a vision he recently shared with a cluster of influential decision makers in the National Capital.
Dr. Tao demonstrated his program to the Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE) in Ottawa last month, at the regular “Bacon and Eggheads” lecture series that brings together Parliamentarians with experts from science and engineering, showcasing outstanding Canadian research accomplishments.
PAGSE, an umbrella group of over 20 science and engineering organizations operating under the auspices of the Royal Society, invited Dr. Tao to brief them on his work and discuss trends in modern geomatics.
It’s one of the few opportunities Canadian scientists have to communicate important findings and scientific issues directly to an influential audience of key decision-makers.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Dr. Tao’s research is the “wow-factor” expressed in audiences whenever he demonstrates his technology.
In an age of sophisticated computer-generated and three-dimensional images and video, witnessing Dr. Tao manipulate the satellite mapping technology with the click of a mouse, and flying over and zooming in on any object, any place on the planet in real time, never fails to impress.
Just as the success of the Internet was largely based on the development of an interoperable 'grid' of legacy and segmented computing networks, says Dr. Tao, the success of the Sensor Grid will also rely on the interoperable connection.
He believes this technology will become invaluable for decision makers as they perform on-line and remote 'situation' analysis and monitoring.
While thoughts of "Big Brother" and surveillance come to mind when contemplating the implications of a global sensor grid, Dr. Tao believes people should not be concerned or afraid of this technology.
"Interoperability or interconnection is the first step towards the sensor grid integration. This is largely the research where I am conducting. We work with many researchers, and industry performers to develop and test an ‘open’ sensor communication standard.”
He acknowledges, however, that "we need to develop technologies that can prevent the misuse of the network infrastructure such as the Internet or the Sensor Grid. This is also part of our research."
The next phase for the work is securing research funding and infrastructure support to scale-up the research to the next level.
A start-up company, GeoTango International Corp, is already commercializing part of the SAME technology. Sponsored by GeoConnections, Geoide, and Defence Research and Development Canada, GeoTango is developing the first version of the commercial product in 2005. “We are looking for both research and business partners to help us research, develop, test and commercialize the technology,” he says.
You can learn more about the research at www.geoict.net. Information on sensor web research is at www.sensorweb.geoict.net.
Back to Headlines
|
|
