SIParCS 2023 - Reuben Alter

Improving the Accessibility of Open IoTwx for Enhanced Community Engagement

Recorded Talk

The goal of the Open IoTwx project is to transform equitable accessibility to open-source Internet-of-Things (IoT) instrumentation across diverse communities. The aim is to lower barriers and broaden community access to low-cost observational instrumentation networks and to empower a diverse community of citizen scientists to co-design sensornets that best meets their needs. The student will modify, assemble, and deploy Open IoTwx in both “low data” and “big data” configurations. Low data configurations include standard measurement nodes such as digital rain, wind, and air. Big data mode includes a Lidar that can produce 100,000 cloud point data per second and high-resolution images from various camera options. These data will be stored locally and a subset of the data will be transmitted via station communications protocols. This project will focus on open extensibility protocols to allow for a wide range of sensor options. The student will expand and develop documentation to allow for the growth of an open-source community around the project. In the process of developing this documentation system the student will apply their hands-on expertise (Arduino, 3D Cad, data communications protocols) to deploy a local station to improve accessibility of the entire build and deployment process. This specifically involves recommendation and design changes to create standard extensible protocols for hardware and IoT software components to promote interoperability while reducing costs and increasing accessibility.

Mentors: Agbeli Ameko, Keith Maull (NCAR Library)

Slides and poster