Research

Quail Ridge wireless mesh network (QuRiNet) is a research facility developed initially as a testbed for wireless networking research, and later adopted for facilitating ecological studies. The current 30-node network provides wireless coverage for 2,000 acres of the Quail Ridge Natural Reserve. Several unique features set it apart from most existing wireless testbeds:

  1. QuRiNet is deployed outdoors, over rugged topography with diverse vegetation coverage, in a very large coverage area;
  2. QuRiNet is free from wireless interference and electromagnetic noise, providing an opportunity to better understand the nuances of wireless networks and to perform sensitivity analysis of various parameters;
  3. All nodes (except the gateway at the research station) are solar-powered;

Ecological researchers use the network regularly to collect and transmit environmental data. The network collects audio, video, and ecological data from the sensors deployed in the reserve. It is expandable, so that researchers can plug in equipment as needed.

New research and research ideas are always welcome. Contact us.

QuRiNet Research Areas:
Remote Access of QuRiNet
We encourage new users of QuRiNet working in both the computer sciences and environmental studies. For computer science questions, we have four levels of remote access to researchers:
  1. Read-only access through Web Interface. Data log viewing, graphing and downloading.
  2. User-level access. Simple workload testing over the mesh nodes.
  3. Limited access. Researchers are allowed to give us code, and one of our group will test it in the lab before deployment into QuRiNet.
  4. Full access. Researchers will be allowed to bring in their own nodes into the network, or apply their code to our nodes directly. Will require a separation of nodes, so we can remotely reboot them.
For environmental and ecological questions, we have three levels of remote access:
  1. Read-only access through Web Interface. Data log viewing, graphing and downloading.
  2. User-level access. Using existing sensors for new questions, requiring staff to adjust recording parameters or position of equipment.
  3. Full access. Researchers will bring their own equipment out and we will provide either a way to host the data or direct it to the researcher.



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