# BioSense: An automated sensing node for organismal and environmental biology

## TL;DR

BioSense is a low-cost, programmable sensing platform for collecting bioacoustic and environmental data in the field.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is a flexible, customizable, and low-cost automated sensing platform for organismal and environmental monitoring.

## Key findings

- BioSense can collect and analyze avian vocalizations alongside environmental data like temperature and humidity.
- The platform was successfully tested in laboratory and field conditions in the southwestern United States.
- The design allows customization for a wide range of research goals and field conditions.

## Abstract

Automated remote sensing has revolutionized the fields of wildlife ecology and environmental science. Yet, a cost-effective and flexible approach for large scale monitoring has not been fully developed, resulting in a limited collection of high-resolution data. Here, we describe BioSense, a low-cost and fully programmable automated sensing platform for applications in bioacoustics and environmental studies. Our design offers customization and flexibility to address a broad array of research goals and field conditions. Each BioSense is programmed through an integrated Raspberry Pi computer board and designed to collect and analyze avian vocalizations while simultaneously collecting temperature, humidity, and soil moisture data. We illustrate the different steps involved in manufacturing this sensor including hardware and software design and present the results of our laboratory and field testing in southwestern United States.