Aims

Development of a user orientated landslide early warning system using wireless sensor networks and service orientated spatial infr

The main purpose of the joint project is the development of a prototypic real-time landslide monitoring and early warning system for an efficient landslide hazard management. In this context especially the enhancement of data quality to improve recognition and analysis of hazardous situations and reduction of false alarm rates are of special interest. The whole information chain from data gathering, validation and interpretation to data retrieval, visualization and user specific warning is subject of the research project. The project focuses on innovative web technologies using standards according to the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) sensor web enablement (OGC SWE) and cost efficient but reliable micro sensors (MEMS) from the automotive industry. The integration of heterogeneous data and information from various providers may be established by an open platform strategy using the web service technology. The Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) integrates modern sensor technologies, data gathering, storage and retrieval as well as services for data validation, processing and alarm generation.

The main aspects of the project are:

1. Integration of cost-effective and reliable micro sensors in an ad-hoc multi-hop wireless sensor network to establish an self organizing real-time landslide monitoring and early warning system
2. Enhancement of data quality and reduction of false alarm rates due to sensor and network fusion
3. Development and configuration of a geoservice infrastructure for real-time data management and online geoprocessing with the capability to integrated external data sources to enhance the predictability of landslide processes and warning
4. Fast allocation of user-specific information for all people (actors) involved in a hazard or disaster situation

The project focuses besides hazard research and monitoring, especially aspects of warn management by monitoring and early warning systems. Due to their immediate impact to danger prevention and management they are an important contribution to enhance public safety. The project partners work together in clusters to accomplish the tasks which arise from the project while always one party takes the leading position.

The main tasks and responsibilities of the partners in the frame of the SLEWS project:

• Department of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology (LIH), RWTH Aachen University: Selection, definition and operation of geosensors for the sensor network. Development of monitoring strategies and field tests for performance evaluation as well as new concepts like sensor fusion to enhance information quality and reduce fals alarm rates
• ScatterWeb (SWB), Berlin: Supply and assembly of wireless sensor network technology and software for self organization and operation.
• Chair of Geodesy and Geoinformatics (GGR), Rostock University: Development of a web based service orientated spatial data infrastructure (SDI) for early warning systems and integration of real-time sensor networks regarding the OGC sensor web enablement.
• Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hannover: Identification and classification of users to investigate their needs and expectations to improve the information process by expert systems regarding European standards.