Date: Oct 15, 2009

Computer Science Professor wins $400,000 NSF grant

Dr. Habib M. Ammari, an Assistant Professor of Computer Science, has won a three-year, $400,000 federal grant to further his research in wireless sensor networks. This type of network consists of independent, battery-powered devices, called sensors, which communicate with a central base station that collects the data. These networks can be used in a wide range of civilian and military applications to monitor conditions over a large geographic area.

Dr. Ammari, also recently published his first book, "Challenges and Opportunities of Connected k-Covered Wireless Sensor Networks: From Sensor Deployment to Data Gathering" (Springer, August 2009).

The research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) was awarded for Dr. Ammari's research to build a theoretical foundation for the analysis and design of mobile wireless sensor networks and find ways to increase their energy efficiency. Moreover, Dr. Ammari plans to use his research to develop new undergraduate and graduate courses.

"This project aims at designing and developing a k-Cover-Sense-Inform (k-CSI) framework for heterogeneous and mission-oriented mobile wireless sensor networks, where every relevant event that occurs in the monitored area is sensed by at least k sensors simultaneously and the sensed data is guaranteed to reach the central base station in an energy-efficient manner," Dr. Ammari said. "This grant will help purchase the necessary sensor equipments, which will enable the students to set up a test-bed for the analysis, testing, and evaluation of wireless sensor network applications."
First developed by the military for tasks such as surveillance, wireless sensor networks now have many uses including air monitoring, so-called 'smart home' automation and traffic monitoring and control."

"There's a lot of potential real-world applications for this, including intruder detection and tracking," Dr. Ammari said. "This project will give more visibility to Hofstra, and I would very much like to eventually introduce and involve graduates and undergraduates in my research, mentor them, train them, and provide them with the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge and successful research in wireless sensor networks."

Dr. Ammari, who joined Hofstra University's Department of Computer Science, in September 2008, also noted that the support of Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (HCLAS) Dean's Office, and The Office for Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP), helped in his efforts to win the grant.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from about 150 undergraduate and more than 160 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business; engineering; communication; education, health and human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. The University also provides excellent facilities with state-of-the-art technology, extensive library resources and internship programs that match students' interests and abilities with appropriate companies and organizations. The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.



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Related Link: National Science Foundation