AziSA: An Architecture for Underground Measurement and Control Networks

AziSA is an architecture for measurement and control networks that can be used to collect, store and facilitate the analysis of data from challenging underground environments. AziSA defines four node classes, two (Classes Four and Three) for interacting with the physical environment and two (Classes Two and One) for managing the system itself. Each class must support a minimum message set that enables the required functionality of the network. AziSA is intended primarily for use in underground mining environments where there is limited power and communications infrastructure. One of the major design goals of AziSA is the capability to have sensors and actuators that are cost-effective, use very little power, and are suitable for use underground. Typically, the communication between these nodes would also be wireless. AziSA was created because the existing identified protocols could not offer an organized and open architecture for low-power, low-cost, wireless systems.