SIMACE - System for monitoring of environmental conditions in hostile conditions
Obiettivo
The project titled "Monitoring of nanoclimatic parameters in cryptoendolithic Antarctic communities" awarded funds by the National Plan for Research in Antarctica (PNRA) and it is coordinated by the University of La Tuscia, Department of Ecological and Biological Science.
The Antarctica endolithic microbial communities represent the extreme adaptation of life to the constraints of the continent being still present, in some sites, also in rocks. The complete genetic and geographic isolation and strong environmental pressures, have led to the evolution of unique and extremely resistant microorganisms. Although some new taxa have been described, biodiversity of these communities is still largely unknown and nothing is known about the effect on the community itself of different nano-environmental parameters as water availability, temperature and light. This project aims at setting up a monitoring system of micro-climate on the long term to have a clear picture of the conditions that microbial communities are normally exposed to. The data, integrated with lithological analysis of the bedrock and a first survey of total biodiversity of the communities, will improve the general understanding of adaptation and evolution at the limits for life and will provide a tool for predicting the effect of possible climate change.
Attività nel progetto CIRA
CIRA activities support the measurements in Antarctica. To remotely monitor such measurements CIRA was involved to define a satellite-based data transmission system.
Main CIRA tasks are the following:
- Identification of the system operating conditions.
- Identification of the satellite constellation for data transmission. Evaluation of the area coverage and availability of commercial off the shelf products for the radiomodem, compatible with the operating conditions.
- By basing on the sensor types defined by the project partners, architectural and physical design of the measurement stations made up of two main components: the data acquisition system (datalogger) and the data transmission system.
- Development of possible sw modules for data handling.
- Electro-mechanical integration of datalogger and communication system and measurement station functional tests in lab.
- Support to the installation in Antarctica.
- Support to retrieve by means of a host computer, data remotely generated.
Programma
Project funded by Italian Ministry of University and Research (MIUR) through the National Program for Research in Antarctica (PNRA).
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data inizio:
Friday, November 27, 2015
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durata:
65.00
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
78
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
SIMACE
Electronics and Communications, Space - Technology Integration and Flight Demostrators, Territory, Environment and Cultural Heritage
Comprehension of development mechanisms for microbial communities in hostile environments envisages the monitoring of microclimatic conditions in particular Antarctic sites. The satellite-based communication system to remotely monitor the environmental conditions is the CIRA task in this project.
Systems Engineering, Application Development
Electronics Lab, Space Qualification Laboratory
