Managing metadata in heterogeneous sensor networks

Abstract

Semantic technologies provide an expressive, interoperable means of deriving knowledge from the profusion of raw data gathered by sensor networks. The W3C's Semantic Sensor Network (SSN) ontology provides a complex but powerful metadata standard for describing large-scale sensing systems. However, managing this metadata across large, heterogeneous sensor networks is cumbersome, especially when non-technical parties independently deploy various types of instruments. To place the descriptive power of the Semantic Web at the fingertips of sensor network professionals, we must bridge the gap between abstract semantic frameworks and real-world sensor hardware. In this paper, we present a metadata management system for heterogeneous sensor networks based on the SSN ontology. Using Semantic Web concepts, we design and implement a system for maintaining hardware information and describing individual sensor deployments. Finally, we show the viability of our architecture by describing its integration with Intelligent River®, a large-scale sensor network initiative, and evaluating its effectiveness based on real sensor deployments.