Design of a monitoring network: from macro to micro design

Abstract

Designing a monitoring network or a measuring set-up or a monitoring station is a typical (multidisciplinary) engineering enterprise: a range of potentially conflicting demands (technical, financial and managerial) and limitations (e.g. availability of resources, skilled personnel, regulations) have to be respected. This chapter addresses the design aspects on both the macro scale (a monitoring network) and on the micro scale. The macro scale addresses what to measure, where to measure, how frequently to measure and the applications of models in the design process. On the micro scale issues with safety, accessibility and practical limitations are discussed. This chapter has close links with virtually all other chapters in this book and a comprehensive set of literature references is supplied to allow the interested reader to broaden his/her knowledge on the subject.