We propose new technology concepts and advancements to aid in our understanding of the effects of climate change on biodiversity. This proposal is targeted towards the current aist "operational…

This federal contract is a grant awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to develop new technology concepts and advancements to aid in understanding the effects of climate change on biodiversity. The two-year grant, valued at $1,323,284.47, seeks to (1) develop wireless in situ observation networks and associated technologies to monitor the vertical flow and distribution of water along the soil, vegetation, and atmosphere continuum, and (2) develop autonomous and event-driven network decision-making strategies based on ecohydrological understandings. The outcomes are expected to help interlink plant-level to field-level hydrological processes and support ground calibration and validation activities for current and planned NASA Earth remote sensing missions. This grant is not a set-aside contract.

We propose new technology concepts and advancements to aid in our understanding of the effects of climate change on biodiversity. This proposal is targeted towards the current aist "operational technologies" core topics along with a focus on the "climate change and biodiversity" special subtopics. Specifically, this proposal seeks to (1) develop wireless in situ observations networks and associated technologies to monitor the vertical flow and distribution of water along the soil, vegetation, and atmosphere continuum, (2) develop autonomous and event-driven network decision-making strategies based on ecohydrological understandings. Outcomes of this proposal will help interlink plant-level to field-level hydrological processes. Furthermore, immediate application to and support of ground calibration and validation (CAL/VAL) activities of current and planned NASA earth remote sensing missions is expected. Certain technology heritage and key building blocks at high technology readiness levels (trls) (6-7) through prior aist support exist. However, with the inclusion of these newly proposed concepts entry level trls are ranked between 2-3 with an expected exit TRL of 4-5 after two-years (starting september 2017 and ending september 2019).