Data_Sheet_1_Low-Cost Environmental Sensor Networks: Recent Advances and Future Directions.docx

The use of low-cost sensor networks (LCSNs) is becoming increasingly popular in the environmental sciences and the unprecedented monitoring data generated enable research across a wide spectrum of disciplines and applications. However, in particular, non-technical challenges still hinder the broader development and application of LCSNs. This paper reviews the development of LCSNs over the last 15 years, highlighting trends and future opportunities for a diverse range of environmental applications. We found air quality, meteorological and water-related networks were particularly well represented with few studies focusing on sensor networks for ecological systems. Furthermore, we identified bias toward studies that have direct links to human health, safety and livelihoods. These studies were more likely to involve downstream data analytics, visualizations, and multi-stakeholder participation through citizen science initiatives. However, there was a paucity of studies that considered sustainability factors for the development and implementation of LCSNs. Existing LCSNs are largely focused on detecting and mitigating events which have a direct impact on humans such as flooding, air pollution or geo-hazards, while these applications are important there is a need for future development of LCSNs for monitoring ecosystem structure and function. Our findings highlight three distinct opportunities for future research to unleash the full potential of LCSNs: (1) improvement of links between data collection and downstream activities; (2) the potential to broaden the scope of application systems and fields; and (3) to better integrate stakeholder engagement and sustainable operation to enable longer and greater societal impacts.

低成本传感器网络（low-cost sensor networks, LCSNs）在环境科学领域的应用愈发普及，其生成的前所未有的监测数据为跨多学科、多应用场景的研究提供了支撑。然而，非技术层面的挑战仍是制约LCSNs更广泛发展与应用的关键瓶颈。本文回顾了近15年来LCSNs的发展历程，梳理了其在各类环境应用场景中的发展趋势与未来机遇。研究发现，空气质量、气象与水文相关的传感器网络应用尤为广泛，而聚焦生态系统传感器网络的研究则相对匮乏。此外，本研究还发现存在研究偏向性：多数研究聚焦于与人类健康、安全及生计直接相关的应用场景。这类研究通常会涉及下游数据分析、可视化展示，并通过公民科学项目实现多利益相关方参与。但目前鲜有研究关注LCSNs开发与落地过程中的可持续性因素。当前的LCSNs大多聚焦于探测并缓解洪涝、空气污染、地质灾害等对人类产生直接影响的事件；尽管此类应用意义重大，但未来仍需推动LCSNs发展以监测生态系统的结构与功能。本研究结论明确了未来可充分释放LCSNs潜能的三大方向：（1）强化数据采集与下游应用环节的联动；（2）拓展应用体系与覆盖领域；（3）优化利益相关方参与机制与可持续运营模式，以实现更持久、更广泛的社会价值。