X-Sense

Lothar Thiele, Jan Beutel Computer Engineering and Networks,

Andreas Vieli ETH Zurich
Alain Geiger Physical Geography, University Zurich
Hugo Raetzo Geodesy and Photogrammetry, ETH
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Christofer Hierold, Cosmin Zurich
Why?

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 Randa, 22. April 2015

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200
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 New scientific Wireless Sensor Network Technology
knowledge about allows to quantify mountain phenomena
geophysical at diverse modalities and scales,
processes provides information for process
systems

Develop
warning

understanding and modeling

ment of
early

can be used for safety critical

applications in an hostile environment.

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What is preventing wide applicability?
sensing movement events (GPS,
images) and/or
micro-seismic and acoustic activities
high sensing
rate

big data high energy high cost

We intend to improve the energy efficiency of the

sensor network by several order of magnitude and
to expand sensor modalities.

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How?

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 Camera

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 Camera

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 Camera

geo-science
pre- communi data cleaning geophysical
senso
processing cation & processing processes
rs society &
12 early warning
Strategy

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Research Early Gain

Prototypes

Applications

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The Science

- Sensing -

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From Tera To Nano

Nano Tera

senso pre- communi data cleaning geophysical

processing cation & processing processes
r

decision
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Zero-Power Sensing and Decision Making

A novel zero-power, purely mechanical, broadband amplification

mechanism based on shoaling was developed specifically for the X-
Sense2 project.

Microcrack

Acoustic emission

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 Zero-Power Sensing and Decision Making
This novel shoaling amplification was successfully
demonstrated including capacitive readout.

M. Mller, V. Maiwald, M. Kch, C. Hierold and C. Roman, "A passive micromechanical broadband amplifier for acoustic emission sensing," in Transducers 2015 Conf., 2015.
V. Maiwald, M. Mller, C. Ritz, C. Roman and C. Hierold, Shoaling vibration amplifier with flattened transfer function and suppressed spurious modes, in MEMS 2017 Conf., 2017.

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X-Sense2 MNS Upscaling
The device is being upscaled
to achieve 1000x
amplification.

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The
Science

- Computing -

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Event-Based System Architecture
Intention: We intend to improve the energy efficiency
and to
reduce the amount of data by several orders of
Approach:
magnitude. Event-based processing.

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 Event-Based System Architecture

formally proven properties

breakthrough in wireless communication
< 1 s time synchronization testing infrastructure FLOCKLAB

Publ. 2014-
2016
10 SenSys
Event-Based Architecture 1 SenseApp
Sensor Interface
4 IPSN 15
Pre-Processing
2 DCOSS
Wireless Communication Sleep Power 5 EWSN
Novel Hardware Architecture Dissipation
8.1 W 1 ECRTS
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1 RTSS
The Science

- Geophysics -

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 Water outflow from
Dirru rock glacier
Movements of Slopes in Permafrost June 2013 (Photo A.
Vieli)

Geophysical Interpretations:
Detect strong and rapid temporal variations of movement
Variations strongly linked to periods/events of high water
input
Winter deceleration linked to winter temperatures
Intensive melt Movement peaks
Joint publications:
Earth Surface
Dynamics
2016
Nat. Hazards Earth Speed
Syst.
Sci. 2014 Air/ground
EUCOP4 2014 temperature
Geophys. Research Liquid
2014 26
precipitation
Acoustic Signal Analysis and
Interpretation
Theoretical investigations confirm strategy of using low
cost sensor arrays for co-detection of large events.

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Prototypes

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Wireless Sensor Networks in X-Sense2
Field Site Matterhorn
Crackmeters
GST, sensor rods, thermistor chains
1 Meteo station
1 Networked camera, 1 High-resolution camera
1 L1/L2 precision GPS (Leica GRS 1200)
3 GPS on rock ridge (slow deformations)
3 Geophones (~10 Hz)
1 IMS Seismic sensor system (~100-1000 Hz)
1 Dual-channel Acoustic Emission node (~10 kHz)
Field Site Dirruhorn/Grabengufer
23 GPS on composite landslides and on rock glaciers
5 GPS as position reference stations
5 Simple temperature loggers per GPS station
3 Meteo stations
1 Networked camera, 2 High-resolution cameras
Field Site Randa
WLAN relay Field Site PERMOS
2 Networked cameras 10 GPS on composite landslides and on rock
glaciers
1 L1/L2 precision GPS (Leica GRS 1200)
Field Site Saastal
2 GPS on rockfall
2 GPS on hanging glacier
Public Access to Data Repository 1 GPS as position reference station
http://data.permasense.ch
1 High-resolution camera
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Impact
and
Outrea
ch

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Impact in Science
Large number of publications in highly
recognized conferences and journals
(44 conference, 13 journal publications) with
a high number of citations. Large number of
joint publications between project partners.
16 PhD students have been participating and
educated within the project.
Marco Zimmerling receives the Paul Caspi
Memorial Dissertation Award

Continuously received highest marks from the

scientific evaluation committee from
Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF).
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Technology Transfer (1)
Technology transfer to Federal Office for the
Environment
(30 wireless GPS stations, GPS loggers, data pipeline)
Technology Transfer of X-Sense GPS-sensor technology
PERMOS (Permafrost Monitoring Switzerland)
10x long-term monitoring sites operated as a
continuous GPS pilot program
Hazard monitoring for authorities
Monitoring of destructive processes on Breithorn, Wysse
Schije, Lngschnee and Grossgufer with authorities and
local industry
Multi-modal Monitoring of Hanging Glaciers
Ground-based Radar, high-resolution imaging and wireless
GPS sensors on a hanging glacier in HohSaas
(jointly with BAFU, Canton VS, Funk/VAW, geopraevent)
Fast Flowing Greenland Outlet
32 Glacier (Swiss SNF
Technology Transfer (2)
Patent Application Mechanical Transducer for the Detection of
Acoustic
and/or Seismic Signals
Critical Events June 3, 2013 and April 22, 2015:
Large media coverage
Evacuations, closing of roads and
railway tracks
Quick adaptation of our infrastructure
Data are continuously transferred to
federal and cantonal offices.
Start-up preparation
Real-time GPS processing
European Navigation Satellite Competition Swiss regional
and ESA special prize
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ETH Pioneer Grant (start-up funding)
 Outreach - Large Media Coverage
]
2014
azin, [20 Minuten]
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Randa, 22. April
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[SNF te 2013]
Ann
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port
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[SF1 Swiss national television, evening news, 2013] 34 2013]

[GQ Magazine,
 Acknowledgement
Collaborations
Collaborations and
and Partner
Partner Activities
Activities
Snow
Snow and
and Permafrost,
Permafrost, Marcia
Marcia Philips
Philips (SLF
(SLF
ETH Zurich
Davos)
Davos) Computer Engineering and Networks Lab
EDYTEM,
EDYTEM, Philip
Philip Deline,
Deline, Ludovic
Ludovic Ravanel
Ravanel Geodesy and Geodynamics Lab
(Universite
(Universite de Savoie, Chambery, France)
de Savoie, Chambery, France)
LGIT,
LGIT, David
David Amitrano
Amitrano (Universite
(Universite Joseph
Joseph Micro and Nanosystems
Fourier,
Fourier, Grenoble,
Grenoble, France)
France) Federal Office for the Environment
Physical
Physical Geography
Geography H2K,H2K, Philipp
Philipp Schneider,
Schneider,
Jan
Jan Seibert
Seibert (University
(University of
of Zurich)
Zurich)
University of Zurich
CCES
CCES COGEAR
COGEAR project,
project, Jeff
Jeff Moore,
Moore, Simon
Simon Department of Geography
Loew
Loew (ETH
(ETH Zurich)
Zurich)
CCES
CCES APUNCH
APUNCH project,
project, Maurizio
Maurizio Savina,
Savina,
Paolo
Paolo Burlando
Burlando (ETH
(ETH Zurich)
Zurich)
CCES
CCES RECORD
RECORD project,
project, Philipp
Philipp Schneider,
Schneider,
Mario
Mario Schirmer
Schirmer (EAWAG)
(EAWAG)
VAW,
VAW, Andreas
Andreas Bauder,
Bauder, Martin
Martin Funk
Funk (ETH
(ETH
Zurich)
Zurich)
OpenSense
OpenSense project,
project, Olga
Olga Saukh
Saukh (ETH
(ETH
Zurich)
Zurich)
Volcanology,
Volcanology, Thomas
Thomas Walter
Walter (GFZ
(GFZ Potsdam,
Potsdam,
Germany)
Germany)
Alpine
Alpine Cryosphere
Cryosphere andand Geomorphology,
Geomorphology,
Reynald
Reynald Delaloye (University of
Delaloye (University of Fribourg)
Fribourg)

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