Sensor networks, consisting of a potentially very large number of diverse sensors interconnected via a low data-rate communication network have the potential to make an unimaginable impact on many areas of human activity. The area of sensing technologies and sensor networks is now considered by international funding agencies such as the European Commission, DARPA and NSF to be one of the top five emerging technologies that will shape the future of human kind and have a major impact on the quality of life over the next 20 years.

The Sensor Net research network will harness the great strengths of its highly multi-disciplinary participants in a national co-operative effort which will:

• Provide an urgently needed national focus and identity for Australian research in the rapidly emerging and highly significant area of sensor networks;
• Provide Australian researchers with strong linkages and exchange opportunities with the major international sensor networks research efforts in the USA and Europe;
• Link Australian industry with world class research programs covering all the critical facets of the highly multi-disciplinary sensor network science and technology base;
• Significantly enhance the relevance and quality of Australian post-graduate training in the broad area of sensor networks;
• Provide a framework for guiding and supporting young Australian researchers in the area of sensor networks;
• Build a national collaborative framework to grow and support the multi-disciplinary research teams needed to address and solve the major research challenges facing sensor network science and technology;
• Build a national collaborative framework to grow and support the essential industry/research co-operation needed to fully exploit advances in sensor network science and technology to address major national social challenges in the areas of health, environment and security.

The scientific challenges which must be overcome in order to realize the enormous potential of sensor networks are substantial and multidisciplinary in nature. The Sensor Net research network will provide an exciting environment for effective collaboration amongst a multi-disciplinary team of world class researchers with outstandingly successful existing research programs covering all the core disciplines required for the successful development and exploitation of sensor networks. These disciplines include bio and nano sensor science and manufacture, large scale system optimization, data and information processing, wireless networks and computer communications, electronics and mechatronics. Sensor Net participants will be linked with many of the very best overseas researchers in these core disciplines and to the worlds best sensor networks research groups.