SensorML

SensorML is an approved Open Geospatial Consortium standard. SensorML provides standard models and an XML encoding for describing sensors and measurement processes. SensorML can be used to describe a wide range of sensors, including both dynamic and stationary platforms and both in-situ and remote sensors.
Functions supported include
sensor discovery
sensor geolocation
processing of sensor observations
a sensor programming mechanism
subscription to sensor alerts
Examples of supported sensors are
stationary, in-situ – chemical “sniffer”, thermometer, gravity meter
stationary, remote – stream velocity profiler, atmospheric profiler, Doppler radar
dynamic, in-situ – aircraft mounted ozone “sniffer”, GPS unit, dropsonde
dynamic, remote – satellite radiometer, airborne camera, soldier-mounted video

What is it?

SensorML provides accepted models and an XML encoding for anecdotic any process, including the action of altitude by sensors and instructions for anticipation higher-level advice from observations. It provides a provider-centric appearance of advice in a sensor web, which is complemented by Observations and Abstracts which provides a user-centric view.

Processes declared in SensorML are accountable and executable. All processes ascertain their inputs, outputs, parameters, and method, as able-bodied as accommodate accordant metadata. SensorML models detectors and sensors as processes that catechumen absolute phenomena to data.

SensorML does not encode abstracts taken by sensors; abstracts can be represented in TransducerML, as observations in Observations and Measurements, or in added forms, such as IEEE 1451.

What is it good for?

Electronic Blueprint Sheet -

In its simplest application, SensorML can be acclimated to accommodate a accepted agenda agency of accouterment blueprint bedding for sensor apparatus and systems.

Discovery of sensor, sensor systems, and processes -

SensorML is a agency by which sensor systems or processes can accomplish themselves accepted and discoverable. SensorML provides a affluent accumulating of metadata that can be mined and acclimated for analysis of sensor systems and ascertainment processes. This metadata includes identifiers, classifiers, constraints (time, legal, and security), capabilities, characteristics, contacts, and references, in accession to inputs, outputs, parameters, and arrangement location.

Lineage of Observations -

SensorML can accommodate a complete and actual description of the birth of an observation. In added words, it can call in detail the action by which an ascertainment came to be .... from accretion by one or added detectors to processing and conceivably even estimation by an analyst. Not alone can this accommodate a aplomb akin with attention to an observation, in a lot of cases, allotment or all of the action could be repeated, conceivably with some modifications to the action or by assuming the ascertainment with a accepted signature source.

On-demand processing of Observations -

Process chains for geolocation or higher-level processing of observations can be declared in SensorML, apparent and broadcast over the web, and accomplished on-demand afterwards a above-mentioned ability of the sensor or processor characteristics. This was the aboriginal disciplinarian for SensorML, as a agency of countering the admeasurement of disparate, arms systems for processing sensor abstracts aural assorted sensor communities. SensorML aswell enables the administration of processing to any point aural the sensor chain, from sensor to abstracts centermost to the alone user's PDA. SensorML enables this processing afterwards the charge for sensor-specific software.

Support for tasking, observation, and active casework -

SensorML descriptions of sensor systems or simulations can be mined in abutment of establishing OGC Sensor Ascertainment Casework (SOS), Sensor Planning Casework (SPS), and Sensor Active Casework (SAS). SensorML defines and builds on accepted abstracts definitions that are acclimated throughout the OGC Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) framework.

Plug-N-Play, auto-configuring, and automous sensor networks -

SensorML enables the development of plug-n-play sensors, simulations, and processes, which may be seamlessly added to Decision Abutment systems. The self-describing appropriate of SensorML-enabled sensors and processes aswell supports the development of auto-configuring sensor networks, as able-bodied as the development of free sensor networks in which sensors can broadcast alerts and tasks to which added sensors can subscribe and react.

Archiving of Sensor Ambit -

Finally, SensorML provides a apparatus for archiving axiological ambit and assumptions apropos sensors and processes, so that observations from these systems can still be reprocessed and bigger continued afterwards the agent mission has ended. This is proving to be analytical for all-embracing applications such as all-around change ecology and modeling.

What are the essential elements?

Component -

Physical diminutive action that transforms advice from one anatomy to another. For example, a Detector about transforms a concrete acreage or abnormality to a agenda number. Archetype Apparatus cover detectors, actuators, and concrete filters.

System -

Composite physically based archetypal of a accumulation or arrangement of components, which can cover detectors, actuators, or sub-systems. A System relates a Action Alternation to the absolute apple and accordingly provides added definitions apropos about positions of its apparatus and advice interfaces.

Process Archetypal -

Atomic non-physical processing block usually acclimated aural a added circuitous Action Chain. It is associated to a Action Method which defines the action interface as able-bodied as how to assassinate the model. It aswell absolutely defines its own inputs, outputs and parameters.

Process Alternation -

Composite non-physical processing block consisting of commutual sub-processes, which can in about-face be Action Models or Action Chains. A action alternation aswell includes accessible abstracts sources as able-bodied as access that absolutely hotlink ascribe and achievement signals of sub-processes together. It aswell absolutely defines its own inputs, outputs and parameters.

Process Method -

Definition of the behavior and interface of a Action Model. It can be stored in a library so that it can be reused by altered Action Archetypal instances (by application 'xlink' mechanism). It about describes the action interface and algorithm, and can point the user to absolute implementations.

Detector -

Atomic basic of a blended Measurement System defining sampling and acknowledgment appropriate of a simple apprehension device. A detector has alone one ascribe and one output, both getting scalar quantities. Added circuitous Sensors such as a anatomy camera which are composed of assorted detectors can be declared as a detector accumulation or arrangement application a System or Sensor. In SensorML a detector is a accurate blazon of Action Model.

Sensor -

Specific blazon of System apery a complete Sensor. This could be for archetype a complete aerial scanner which includes several Detectors (one for anniversary band).

How did it come about?

In 1998, under the auspices of the international Committee for Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS), Dr. Mike Botts began development of an XML-based Sensor Model Language for describing the geometric, dynamic, and radiometric properties of dynamic remote sensors. Initial development was funded under a NASA AIST Program, and in 2000, SensorML was brought under the oversight of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) where it served as a catalyst for the OGC Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) initiative. SensorML design has benefited greatly from the interactions of members of the OGC Sensor Web Enablement Working Group. The continued development of SensorML has been supported by the Interoperability Program of OGC, as well as the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US National GeoSpatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the US Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC), the US Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), SAIC, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Oak Ridge National Labs, and NASA.