Design, development, and deployment of a wireless sensor network for detection of landslides

Wireless sensor networks are one of the most promising emerging technologies, providing the opportunity for real-time monitoring of geographical regions (remote and hostile) that are prone to disasters. With a focus on landslide detection, this work reaffirms the capability of wireless sensor networks for disaster mitigation. A complete functional system consisting of 50 geological sensors and 20 wireless sensor nodes was deployed in Idukki, a district in the southwestern region of Kerala State, India, a highly landslide prone area. The wireless sensor network system has, for the past three years, gathered vast amounts of data such as correlated sensor data values on rainfall, moisture, pore pressure and movement, along with other geological, hydrological and soil properties, helping to provide a better understanding of the landslide scenario. Using the wireless sensor networks, system was developed an innovative three level landslide warning system (Early, Intermediate and Imminent). This system has proven its validity by delivering a real warning to the local community during heavy rains in the July 2009 monsoon season. The implementation of this system uses novel data aggregation methods for power optimization in the field deployment. A report on unanticipated challenges that were faced in the field deployment of the wireless sensor networks and the novel solutions devised to overcome them are presented here.