First-class meta-data: a step towards a highly reliable wireless seismic network in Peru

A 200-mile long temporary sensor network is inherently fragile, yet domain scientists legitimately demand reli- able sensor data capture and transport. We report here on a currently deployed and operational sensor network system that considers sensor and general system health meta-data to be equally important as sensor data. We argue that this is both essential to, and effective for, reliable system operation. The meta-data constitutes a 0.1% storage space and transport system overhead in a fielded seismic sensing network.