Workshop on Delay-Tolerant Networks (DTN) Solutions for Environmental Monitoring

Administration

Description

The call for application is now closed.

Delay-Tolerant Networks (DTNs) support reliable data collection in extreme environments, essential for ecological, pollution, and disaster science, especially in Asia’s remote or rural regions with frequent disasters and sparse infrastructure.

DTNs provide a robust solution for reliable data gathering and transmission in environments that face significant connectivity challenges or disruptions. DTNs are invaluable for scientists engaged in ecological preservation, pollution monitoring, and emergency response operations, as these fields often require seamless information flow in areas with little or no communication infrastructure. Their importance is particularly pronounced in Asia, a continent marked by vast, sparsely populated regions, recurrent natural disasters, and underdeveloped rural infrastructure. By enabling interventions and monitoring in these hard-to-reach locations, DTNs support better decision-making and more effective protection of environmental and human health.

Topics:

- Introduction to Delay-Tolerant Networks (DTNs)
- Applications of DTNs in Environmental Monitoring
- DTN Network Design and Optimization
- Mobile Nodes and Data Mules
- Environmental Challenges and Adaptations
- Low-power design
- Basic know-how about antennas and radio coverage
- Real-Time Monitoring and Early Warning Systems

Directors:

Marco Zennaro, ICTP, Italy
SamoGrasic, ICTP, Italy
Prashant Manandhar, Center for Information and Communication Technology for Development, Nepal
Pavan Shakya, Center for Information and Communication Technology for Development, Nepal
Rajan Parajuli, Nepal Research and Education Network, Nepal
Rolisha Sthapit, Prime College, Nepal

Research abstracts: In the application form, all applicants are asked to submit a brief research abstract for a poster presentation and/or contributed talk. Please use ICTP templates available for download here and below under 'Material'.

Grants: A limited number of grants are available to support the attendance of selected participants, with priority given to participants from developing countries. There is no registration fee.

Material

Abstract Templates Booklet Group Photo List of participants Poster Slides

Workshop on Delay-Tolerant Networks (DTN) Solutions for Environmental Monitoring | (smr 4193)

Go to day

Monday, 11 May 2026

06:15 - 14:15 Introduction to DTN and System Architecture

06:15 Opening Remarks 20'

Speaker: Mahabir Pun, Marco Zennaro
06:35 Welcome Message by Vint Cerf 5'

06:40 DTN Overview 45'

Speaker:	Scott Burleigh
Material:	Slides

07:25 Coffee break 15'

07:40 DTN in Operational Use 35'

Speaker:	Scott Burleigh
Material:	Slides

08:15 OPTIMUS Vision: DTN as the Backbone of Ka-Band and Optical Ground Networks 30'

Speaker: Samo Grasic
09:15 Lunch break 1h0'
10:15 Lab: Set up your node 2h0'

Speaker: Samo Grasic, Suraj Dangol
12:15 Coffee break 15'

12:30 Lab: Set up your node 1h45'

● Connect screen/keyboard/network to PI
● Setting up a Tailscale network
● Downloading and building ION (or the selected DTN software)
● Initial configuration of a single DTN node
● Starting and stopping ION
● Basic troubleshooting and verification
● Logs/Configuration files

Tuesday, 12 May 2026

06:15 - 14:15 Bundle Protocol, Convergence Layers, and Implementations

06:15 Bundle Protocol Architecture 30'

Speaker:	Scott Burleigh
Material:	Slides

06:45 Convergence Layer Protocols in Space Applications 30'

Speaker:	Scott Burleigh
Material:	Slides

07:15 Coffee break 15'
07:30 Other Convergence Layers 15'

Speaker: Samo Grasic
07:45 Bundle Protocol Security 30'

Speaker: Samo Grasic
08:15 Dissecting Bundle Traffic (Hands-on / Deep Dive) 1h0'

Speaker: Laura Chappell
09:15 Lunch break 1h0'

10:15 ION Architecture 1h0'

Speaker:	Scott Burleigh
Material:	Slides

11:15 Other BP Implementations 15'

Speaker: Samo Grasic

11:30 Routing and Forwarding in BP 45'

Speaker:	Scott Burleigh
Material:	Slides

12:15 Coffee break 15'

12:30 Lab : Start your ION 1h45'

● Getting familiar with ION
● Add a New Neighbor Contact
● Exchange a DTN Message with a Neighbor
● Build and Test a Contact Graph
● Example: Building a Contact Graph with Three Nodes
● Good to Know About ION

Speaker:

Samo Grasic, Suraj Dangol

Wednesday, 13 May 2026
- 06:15 - 14:15 Terrestrial DTN Applications
  - 06:15 Standardization, DTN Communities, and Ongoing Efforts 30'
    
    Speaker: Scott Burleigh, Samo Grasic
  - 06:45 Resilient IoT in the Arctic: DTN-Enabled LoRa for Reindeer Herding 45'
    
    Speaker: Samo Grasic
  - 07:30 Coffee break 15'
  - 07:45 Open DTN of Things Platform 45'
    
    Speaker: Samo Grasic
  - 08:30 Lab: Join the PWG Community 45'
    
    Speaker: Scott Burleigh, Samo Grasic
  - 09:15 Lunch break 1h0'
  - 10:15 Lab: Join the PWG Community 4h0'
```
● Join the IPNSIG’s PWG Operational DTN
● Build your Contact Graph using DTNEx
● DTNEX – DTN Network Information Exchange
● How DTNEX works
● Authentication, replay protection, and expiration
● Build & install DTNEX
● Automating ION and DTNEx Startup on your PI
● ION DTN Watchdog
● Install DTNEx as a Systemd Service
```
Thursday, 14 May 2026
- 06:15 - 14:15 Participant Project Presentations
  - 06:15 Participant presentations of DTN project ideas - Workshop participants 1h0'
  - 07:15 Coffee break 15'
  - 07:30 Feedback and discussion sessions 1h0'
  - 08:30 Interactive Workshop: Designing a DTN Sensor Network – The Trishuli River (Rasuwa) Case Study 45'
    
    Speaker: Samo Grasic, Suraj Dangol, Scott Burleigh
  - 09:15 Lunch break 1h0'
  - 10:15 Lab: Participant Project Presentations 4h0'
```
● Build Your First DTN Application (Sensor Example)
● Wire the BME280 Sensor
● Enable I2C interaface on your PI
● Download and install bpbme280 ion service
● Verify Data Reception IPNSIG’s Bundle Board
```
    Speaker: Scott Burleigh, Samo Grasic
Friday, 15 May 2026
- 06:15 - 10:15
  - 06:15 Morning Lab: Deploy, test and debug a DTN Sensor network 1h0'
```
● Building, Setting Up, and Deploying Two DTN Base Stations and a River Level
Sensor
● Practical Aspects of DTN Deployments: Antennas, Power, and Field Access
● Monitoring Your DTN Network with OpenIPN Analytics and DTN Pocket Nodes
● Build a DTN Sensor Without Writing Code Using Claude AI
```
    Speaker: Samo Grasic, Suraj Dangol
  - 07:15 Coffee break 15'
  - 07:30 Morning Lab: Deploy, test and debug a DTN Sensor network 1h45'
  - 09:15 Lunch break 1h0'
- 10:15 - 11:15 Open Forum and Wrap-Up
  - 10:15 Future collaboration opportunities 30'
    
    Speaker: Scott Burleigh, Samo Grasic
  - 10:45 Concluding Remarks 30'
    
    Speaker: Marco Zennaro, Scott Burleigh, Suraj Dangol