Facility for the Automated Intelligent Monitoring of Marine Systems - FAIMMS

Sensor networks are a leading edge technology that can be used to provide spatially dense bio-physical measurements in real-time. In the marine environment they have particular application to the study of benthic ecosystems. The term 'sensor network' refers to an array of small, wirelessly interconnected sensors that collectively stream sense data to a central data aggregation point. Some sensors can be set to sample according to prevailing conditions (e.g. monitoring salinity more frequently after rainfall), but since communications with the sensors will be bi-directional they can also be manipulated by central land-based control systems. Initially they will be deployed in a large scale pilot to collect data related to the interaction of heat and light in coral bleaching, and to understanding the impact of upwelling from the Coral Sea upon the productivity of Great Barrier Reef ecosystems.While sensor networks are a leading edge technology, they are well suited to the proposed application because proven technologies exist for reliable sensing of physical variables (e.g. temperature, salinity, light) critical to the immediate scientific questions, which are:1. understanding the interaction of heat and light in coral bleaching, and2. understanding the impact of upwelling from the Coral Sea upon the productivity of GBR ecosystems.The immediate value of the network will be its ability to return spatially dense bio-physical measurements in real-time. As such this represents a large scale trial or proof of concept of a very important emerging technology for application in the marine environment with particular relevance to benthic ecosystems such as Great Barrier Reef and other benthic environments. The project looks to deploy sensor networks at seven sites along the Great Barrier Reef to measure a range of physical parameters at a range of scales. The project will install communications, data and platform infrastructure that will support future sensor work looking at biological and chemical parameters. The FAIMMS Project is part of the GBROOS or Great Barrier Reef Ocean Observing System project which in turn is part of the Australian Integrated Marine Observing System or IMOS.

传感器网络（sensor networks）是一项前沿技术，可实时提供空间高密度的生物物理测量数据。在海洋环境中，该技术尤其适用于底栖生态系统（benthic ecosystems）的研究。“传感器网络”指由小型无线互联传感器组成的阵列，可将感知数据统一流式传输至中央数据聚合节点。部分传感器可根据实时环境条件调整采样频率（例如降雨后提升盐度监测频次），由于与传感器的通信为双向链路，陆上中央控制系统也可对其进行操控。本项目初期将开展大规模试点部署，采集与珊瑚白化过程中热与光的相互作用相关的数据，并探究珊瑚海上升流对大堡礁（Great Barrier Reef）生态系统生产力的影响。尽管传感器网络属于前沿技术，但它非常适配本次拟开展的应用场景——现有成熟技术可对当前核心科学问题所需的关键物理变量（如温度、盐度、光照）进行可靠感知，本次核心科学问题包括：1. 探究珊瑚白化过程中热与光的相互作用机制；2. 解析珊瑚海上升流对大堡礁（GBR）生态系统生产力的影响。该网络的核心即时价值在于可实时输出空间高密度的生物物理测量数据，因此本项目是一项针对海洋环境应用的重要新兴技术的大规模试点验证或概念验证，尤其适用于大堡礁等底栖生态系统及其他底栖环境。本项目计划在大堡礁沿线的7个站点部署传感器网络，以多尺度测量多种物理参数。本项目将搭建通信、数据与平台基础设施，为后续开展生物及化学参数相关的传感器监测工作提供支撑。FAIMMS项目是大堡礁海洋观测系统（GBROOS）的组成部分，而大堡礁海洋观测系统本身又是澳大利亚综合海洋观测系统（IMOS）的子项目。