Smart environmental monitoring and assessment technologies (SEMAT)- a new paradigm for low-cost, remote aquatic environmental monitoring

Expense and the logistical difficulties with deploying scientific monitoring equipment are the biggest limitations to undertaking large scale monitoring of aquatic environments. The Smart Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Technologies (SEMAT) project is aimed at addressing this problem by creating an open standard for low-cost, near real-time, remote aquatic environmental monitoring systems. This paper presents the latest refinement of the SEMAT system in-line with the evolution of existing technologies, inexpensive sensors and environmental monitoring expectations. We provide a systems analysis and design of the SEMAT remote monitoring units and the back-end data management system. The system's value is augmented through a unique e-waste recycling and repurposing model which engages/educates the community in the production of the SEMAT units using social enterprise. SEMAT serves as an open standard for the community to innovate around to further the state of play with low-cost environmental monitoring. The latest SEMAT units have been trialled in a peri-urban lake setting and the results demonstrate the system's capabilities to provide ongoing data in near real-time to validate an environmental model of the study site

Towards online delivery of process-oriented guided inquiry learning techniques in information technology courses

Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) is a technique used to teach in large lectures and tutorials. It invokes interaction, team building, learning and interest through highly structured group work. Currently, POGIL has only been implemented in traditional classroom settings where all participants are physically present. However, advances in online learning technologies have prompted increases in the popularity of flexible delivery and distance education courses. Therefore, teaching methodologies need to reflect the changing student demographic. This paper describes a preliminary approach for adapting POGIL techniques for use in tertiary courses delivered online. We discuss the current technologies that can be used for teaching online and contrast their suitability for POGIL. A teaching format is presented using Web 2.0 technologies (a wiki, blogs, and social networking) as a starting point for POGIL. We describe how an online third year Information Technology subject adopted these technologies for a condensed implementation of POGIL

A Unique Solution for Designing Low-Cost, Heterogeneous Sensor Networks using a Middleware Integration Platform

Proprietary sensor network systems are typically expensive, rigid and difficult to incorporate technologies from other vendors. When using competing and incompatible technologies, a non-proprietary system is complex to create because it requires significant technical expertise and effort, which can be more expensive than a proprietary product. This paper presents the Sensor Abstraction Layer (SAL) that provides middleware architectures with a consistent and uniform view of heterogeneous sensor networks, regardless of the technologies involved. SAL abstracts and hides the hardware disparities and specificities related to accessing, controlling, probing and piloting heterogeneous sensors. SAL is a single software library containing a stable hardware-independent interface with consistent access and control functions to remotely manage the network. The end-user has near-real-time access to the collected data via the network, which results in a cost-effective, flexible and simplified system suitable for novice users. SAL has been used for successfully implementing several low-cost sensor network systems

A Unique Solution for Designing Low-Cost, Heterogeneous Sensor Networks using a Middleware Integration Platform

Proprietary sensor network systems are typically expensive, rigid and difficult to incorporate technologies from other vendors. When using competing and incompatible technologies, a non-proprietary system is complex to create because it requires significant technical expertise and effort, which can be more expensive than a proprietary product. This paper presents the Sensor Abstraction Layer (SAL) that provides middleware architectures with a consistent and uniform view of heterogeneous sensor networks, regardless of the technologies involved. SAL abstracts and hides the hardware disparities and specificities related to accessing, controlling, probing and piloting heterogeneous sensors. SAL is a single software library containing a stable hardware-independent interface with consistent access and control functions to remotely manage the network. The end-user has near-real-time access to the collected data via the network, which results in a cost-effective, flexible and simplified system suitable for novice users. SAL has been used for successfully implementing several low-cost sensor network systems

Scaling-up process-oriented guided inquiry learning techniques for teaching large information systems courses

Promoting engagement during lectures becomes significantly more challenging as class sizes increase. Therefore, lecturers need to experiment with new teaching methodologies to embolden deep learning outcomes and to develop interpersonal skills amongst students. Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) is a teaching approach that uses highly structured group work during lessons so that students construct content. Each group member takes on a role for which the other group members rely on, and then the group reports back to the class. This paper describes how POGIL was adapted for use in a large first year Information Systems course. Quantitative and qualitative results suggest that students are receptive to POGIL, as the approach creates a relaxed, friendly and trusting community that is typically not present in classes that use a didactic teaching style. We provide a discussion of lessons learned with regard to using POGIL in a large lecture theatre and give recommendations for how to improve interactivity amongst the class

The integration, analysis and visualization of sensor data from dispersed wireless sensor network systems using the SWE framework

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have been used in numerous applications to remotely gather real-time data on important environmental parameters. There are several projects where WSNs are deployed in different locations and operate independently. Each deployment has its own models, encodings, and services for sensor data, and are integrated with different types of visualization/analysis tools based on in-dividual project requirements. This makes it difucult to reuse these services for other WSN applications. A user/system is impeded by having to learn the models, encodings, and ser-vices of each system, and also must integrate/interoperate data from different data sources. Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) provides a set of standards (web service interfaces and data encoding/model specifications) to make sensor data publicly available on the web. This paper describes how the SWE framework can be extended to integrate disparate WSN sys-tems and to support standardized access to sensor data. The proposed system also introduces a web-based data visualiza-tion and statistical analysis service for data stored in the Sen-sor Observation Service (SOS) by integrating open source technologies. A performance analysis is presented to show that the additional features have minimal impact on the sys-tem. Also some lessons learned through implementing SWE are discussed

The Integration, Analysis and Visualization of Sensor Data from Dispersed Wireless Sensor Network Systems Using the SWE Framework, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2001, nr 4

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have been used in numerous applications to remotely gather real-time data on important environmental parameters. There are several projects where WSNs are deployed in different locations and operate independently. Each deployment has its own models, encodings, and services for sensor data, and are integrated with different types of visualization/analysis tools based on individual project requirements. This makes it difficult to reuse these services for other WSN applications. A user/system is impeded by having to learn the models, encodings, and services of each system, and also must integrate/interoperate data from different data sources. Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) provides a set of standards (web service interfaces and data encoding/model specifications) to make sensor data publicly available on the web. This paper describes how the SWE framework can be extended to integrate disparate WSN systems and to support standardized access to sensor data. The proposed system also introduces a web-based data visualization and statistical analysis service for data stored in the Sensor Observation Service (SOS) by integrating open source technologies. A performance analysis is presented to show that the additional features have minimal impact on the system. Also some lessons learned through implementing SWE are discussed

Secure online English auctions

Security and privacy in online auctions is a major concern as auction participants have many opportunities to cheat (e.g., repudiate bids, not deliver items, etc.). Online auctions such as those used by eBay are based on a type of auction referred to as an English auction. Despite the English auction being the most popular type of auction, it has received less security coverage than other types of auctions (e.g., sealed-bid auctions). An existing proposal for a “secure” English auction prevents the Auctioneer from closing the auction early and from blocking bids, but does not protect a bidder’s anonymity. Another proposal provides anonymity, but does not stop an Auctioneer from skewing its clock or blocking bids. This paper proposes a new scheme for conducting secure and anonymous online English auctions using a modified type of group signature. Trust is divided among three servers owned by separate companies to ensure anonymity and fairness. Our scheme solves the problems of the existing English auction schemes and has following characteristics: unforgeability, anonymity, unlinkability, exculpability, coalition-resistance, verifiability, robustness, traceability, revocation, one-off registration, unskewability and unblockability. Our scheme has comparable efficiency to the existing schemes for the enhanced security and privacy it provides

Remote Handwritten Signature Authentication

This paper presents a secure real-time remote user authentication system based on dynamic handwritten signature verification. The system allows users to establish their identities to other parties in real-time via a trusted verification server. The system can be used to gain remote access to restricted content on a server or to verify a signature on a legal document. State of the art dynamic verification techniques are combined with proven cryptographic methods to develop a secure model for remote handwritten signature verification