COA NEWS COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC SUMMER/FALL 2002 BAR HARBOR, MAINE COA Biologists and Intel Scientists Use Sensor Technology to Monitor Elusive Seabirds in Maine For scientists at College of the Atlantic ecology." several biology students. studying the Leach's Storm Petrel, moni- The raw information provided by the Biologists believe the 237-acre toring the shy seabird's nest activity has motes will help biologists understand why island, located 12 miles from Acadia meant sticking a cumbersome remote the Leach's Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma National Park, may be home to one of camera or a daring arm into burrows. But leucorhoa) favors Great Duck Island over the largest petrel breeding colonies in since Monday, August 5, these biologists thousands of other islands off the coast of the eastern United States. The storm - and petrel buffs around the world - have Maine. "This is particularly important in petrel is particularly challenging to study been able to monitor a popular breeding conservation questions," said Anderson. because it spends most of its life offshore, site in real time through the returning to land only during the Internet while sitting comfortably sensitive breeding period from the in front of their computers. end of May through October. On Wireless sensor technology land, the petrels stay hidden dur- developed at the Intel Research ing the day to avoid predators, Laboratory with assistance from typically emerging after 10:00 p.m. the University of California, The motes were placed in six Berkeley, is making this powerful burrows and the surrounding method of habitat monitoring brush, covering an area just larger than half a football field. "From possible. Over the summer, researchers from the Intel lab and the biological side of things, sam- from UC Berkeley teamed with ple size is very important," said Anderson. "The more individuals COA biologists to install a net- work of more than 20 miniatur- you can look at, the more you know about the health of the ized sensors, or motes, on nearby Great Duck Island. colony." The idea for the project began Each device, slightly bigger through Anderson's friendship than the two AA batteries power- with Alan Mainwaring, a research ing it, is now beaming back raw scientist at the Intel Research lab- data about the conditions in the oratory in Berkeley. "We were burrows and the island's microcli- looking for an application to field mate that the public can view at test the motes, and John needed a http://www.greatduckisland.net. reliable way to monitor the petrels "There is nothing else like Maine Public Radio's Naomi Schalit interviews John Anderson on this sensor network available for Great Duck Island for a segment on "Maine Things Considered" throughout the year," said in late June. The mote sensor can be seen to the right of Anderson. Mainwaring. conservation biologists, nothing With Anderson's input, that can provide good quality data researchers at Intel and Berkeley in such dense numbers," said John "We want to know which islands are designed the motes to detect light, baro- Anderson, associate dean of advanced important for the seabirds, and why. We metric pressure, relative humidity and studies and conservation biologist at may learn that the microhabitat of Great temperature conditions. An infrared heat COA. Anderson and students have been Duck Island is unique and in need of pro- sensor detects whether the nest is occu- studying seabird colonies on Great Duck tection." pied by a seabird and whether the bird Island for the past four years. "What's Up to now, obtaining an accurate has company. Motes within the burrows really exciting about this is that we can count of the elusive seabirds involved and around the brush send readings out get a feel for what happens on the island expensive, carefully planned trips to the to a single gateway sensor above ground, when humans aren't there," he said. island with a pen, paper and a portable which then relays collected information "This kind of sensor network will have video system - dubbed the "petrel peeper" to a laptop computer locked away at a a profound effect on how we do field - that was transported by wheelbarrow or lighthouse on the island. The laptop, Continued on page 2 Sensor Technology, from page 1 COA News The Newsletter of powered by photovoltaic cells, connects College of the Atlantic to the Internet via satellite. The petrel project is one of the Summer/Fall 2002 first real world applications for wireless sensors developed by the Intel Research PRESIDENT Laboratory. The lab, a cooperative Steven K. Katona research project between Intel and UC DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Berkeley, was opened in the spring of Eleanor Grace Courtemanche 2001 and is led by professor David Culler. The aim of the project is to develop sen- EDITOR sors that can organize themselves into ad Carroll Gordon hoc networks and provide information Director of Public Relations about the physical world to information CONTRIBUTORS systems. The sensors are called "motes" Rebecca Buyers-Basso '81 because they may one day be as small as John Anderson shows COA student Mike Dorothy Wills Knapp dust motes. Shepherd how to use the "Petrel Peeper." Hans Mulder, co-director of the CHAIRMAN OF THE Intel Research Lab at Berkeley says "we months, while the relay sensor - which BOARD OF TRUSTEES are about ten years away from having consumers more power - is rigged to a John N. Kelly sensors that cost less than a dollar." He solar panel. envisions a day when thousands of inex- Mainwaring pointed out that COA News is published twice a year pensive sensors will be embedded in walls motes placed in an office building or and is circulated to alumni, to provide feedback on the structural home do not need to contend with rain, students, parents and friends of College of the Atlantic. integrity of a building after an earth- sand or a curious seabird's beak. He said quake. Sensor nets could give rise to pre- the motes in the burrows are protected cision agriculture where every grapevine from dirt and moisture by a 10-micron has a sensor that tracks moisture, humidi- thick polymer coating that is biologically ty, temperature and sunlight. Sensors on inert. An acrylic, cylindrical casing pro- machines in a manufacturing plant could tects the motes above ground. detect a rise in temperature or excessive The researchers will be monitor- THE COLLEGE OF vibration and signal that a repair needs ing the data and improving on the system THE ATLANTIC to be done before a part breaks. over the next several months. They plan VISION STATEMENT "The unique requirements of to return to Great Duck Island in April The faculty, students, monitoring wildlife really pushed the to deploy more motes before the start of trustees, staff and alumni engineering of the motes in new direc- next year's breeding season. tions," said Culler. Biologists aren't able of College of the Atlantic to visit research sites more than a few envision a world where times a year, and they avoid doing SO to people value creativity, lessen the negative ecological impact of Read more about intellectual achievement, repeated human presence. It therefore and the diversity of nature became especially important to reduce Alan Mainwaring and human cultures. With the motes' power consumption SO the on page 11. respect and compassion, sensors would last between visits. The individuals will construct motes in the burrows can run continu- meaningful lives for ously on two AA batteries for six themselves, gain appreciation for the relationships among all forms Inside COA News of life, and safeguard the New Faces at COA p. 3 Technology Innovator: Jay McNally '84 p. 10 heritage of future generations. Watershed Signs Posted p. 3 Brass Week 2002 p. 10 Graduation 2002 pp 4-6 Allied Whale Celebrates Thirty VISIT THE COA WEBSITE Distinguished Lecturer 2002 p. 6 Years p. 11 www.coa.edu Touring Adventures: The Big Dig Ecological Entrepreneurship Series by Rebecca Buyers-Basso '81 p. 7 Set for the Fall p. 11 "Summertime 'an the livin' is The Lobster Quadrille Chronicled p. 12 easy" pp. 8-9 COA News 2 SUMMER/FALL 2002