Internet of Things and Sensor Networks

Abstract

The articles in this special section focus on the Internet of Things and sensor networks. We are now facing unprecedented times when the entire world is combating the COVID-19 threat. While this crisis has had a direct impact on the society at-large by posing health risks to people across the planet, its cascading nature has made a dent in the global economy with numerous industry sectors struggling to resume or continue their operations. The world’s population is witnessing a new norm that requires everyone to revisit their ways of conducting daily activities while minding the communal safety. With the global pandemic epicenter moving across regions at an aggressive rate, there is a growing sense of urgency. Meanwhile, the presently adopted strategy has become to contain and limit the spread of infection. To this aim, social distancing is being enforced at an individual level and a test-track-isolate protocol is being followed at the community level. Individuals and organizations alike strive to develop effective means for navigating the current crisis as well as to find a transition path to the new operating regime for conducting business in the post-pandemic world. Here, IoT technologies can come to our aid. Full-stack trusted IoT systems that encompass the elements of sensing, connectivity, and data analysis have the potential to address many immediate and future needs that such a crisis imposes.