Ikarus: large-scale participatory sensing at high altitudes

Sensor networks proved to be a useful research tool in the field of environmental monitoring. While first sensor deployments consisted of a relatively small number of static nodes, mobile sensor devices have attracted growing interest for large-scale sensing applications in recent years. In this paper, we present Ikarus, a novel participatory sensing application having orders of magnitude more users than existing approaches. The Ikarus system exploits sensor data collected during cross-country flights by paraglider pilots to study thermal effects in the atmosphere. Based on first experiences gained from this approach, we identify three key aspects that are crucial for the success of participatory sensing applications: incentives for participation, the ability to deal with faulty data, and concise data representation.