Sensor networks represent a new measurement paradigm with applications across environmental monitoring, earth observation, structural health monitoring, etc. The paradigm involves multiple sensors using wireless or wired communications and internet services, to provide raw data that is converted to information-based products, e.g. a map of air quality in a region or life-cycle maintenance plan.
While traditional measurement systems achieve traceability through the minimisation of environmental influences in controlled laboratories, smart monitoring of assets has to address the issue of environmental issues in situ. This has led to new statistical learning and data assimilation approaches that combine data and models to provide reliable information about the system under study.