Nov 29, 2009
Center for Wireless Networks and Applications, Amritapuri
 

Twenty-five scientists from all over the world attended a DST-sponsored National Workshop at Amritapuri in September 2009 on Wireless Sensor Networks for Landslide Monitoring, Detection and Mitigation.   Download Proceedings >>
 

“This subject of wireless sensor networks is very important as it represents a cutting-edge technology,” stated Dr. Sreehari Rao, Chief Controller R&D, DRDO in his key-note speech. Dr. Rao has been honored as an Outstanding Scientist.
 

He continued, “I am very happy that Amrita University has taken up research in this area. This has got wide applications in the field of defense also. The findings from this research at Amrita can be effectively utilized in our future projects.”
 

The Amrita team had recently concluded the WINSOC project wherein wireless sensors were installed in the landslide-prone area of Munnar in order to provide prior warning in case a landslide became imminent. In July 2009, during the heavy monsoon rains, the sensors registered an increase in soil pressure and a warning was issued to inhabitants to evacuate the area.
 

“This workshop is to celebrate the initial success of a pilot project in saving lives,” said Prof. Vinod Chandra Menon, Honorable Member of the National Disaster Management Authority, in the second key-note address. “We have started talking of critical applications through WINSOC – a collaboration which actually links together 11 partners across seven countries.”
 

Eleven partners, nine from Europe, and two from India, Amrita and Antrix, had participated in the project. Dr. Maneesha Ramesh, who had led Amrita’s participation provided an overview of the project. “It is estimated that the annual loss due to landslides worldwide is $400 million,” she stated. “So there is potential to have much societal impact by deployment of this technology.”
 

Why had the team decided to use wireless technology? “For such a project, a lot of sensing devices are needed,” Dr. Maneesha explained. “Munnar is a hostile place and wireless networks can sense, process and transmit data, while requiring very less maintenance. Only constraint is battery power, and we are looking into using solar-driven sensors.”
 

After the morning session, the delegates were invited to meet with Chancellor Amma. There was a detailed discussion regarding future research that can be done in this area. Post this meeting, the delegates presented their research work.* The next day the group toured the actual deployment site in Munnar where the wireless sensor network system was installed.
 

“The signals transmitted from these sensors are sent to our campus for processing,” Dr. Maneesha informed the delegates. “This data is available online at winsoc.org. Scientists interested in conducting research into the phenomena of landslides can access this data and study the signal variations and patterns in real-time.”
 

“We are pleased that a very distinguished gathering of experts from different parts of India came together for the workshop,” stated Dr. Venkat Rangan, Vice-Chancellor of Amrita University. “All delegates** represented very highly reputed national agencies, particularly dealing with disaster management, a topic which is of great significance to the nation and of immense importance and priority for us at Amrita.”
 

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Complete List of Participants