Left to right: Andrew Wiedlea (ESnet), Stijn Wielandt (Earth and Environmental Sciences Area), Howard Yao (EESA), and James Kafader (ESnet) in front of the Greenfield Wireless Edge Site Characterization tower.
The Greenfield Wireless Edge Site Characterization project is pioneering a new era in remote data collection by developing an affordable and flexible private cellular system. This innovative solution addresses the long-standing challenge faced by field researchers who often lack access to Wi-Fi and cellular service, forcing them to rely on manual data transfer methods.
Co-led by Andrew Wiedlea from ESnet and Stijn Wielandt, a WD&E mentor, the project brings together expertise from ESnet, EESA, Argonne National Laboratory, NREL, University of Nevada-Reno, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Wiedlea focuses on networking development, while Wielandt adapts the system for various scientific applications. Notably, Howard Yao was a former WD&E intern in the Community College Internship (CCI) in Fall 2024 and has played a crucial role in designing a mobile test unit that measures wireless signal parameters and creates multi-technology wireless coverage maps.
Initially tested in 2022 on Colorado’s Crested Butte Mountain using private 4G Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) hardware, the prototype has evolved significantly. By 2023, a research 5G tower was constructed to support multiple wireless technologies. In 2024, a portable system was tested across California, Utah, and Nevada sites. This system includes a Starlink Mini, multi-sector cellular, and Wi-Fi HaLow antennas and can operate on batteries for up to 10 hours or continuously with solar power.
Field trials in the Sacramento Delta, Milford, Utah, and Jersey Valley, Nevada, demonstrated the system’s adaptability and reliability. The project aims to create a public blueprint for private cellular networking, transforming remote data collection by enabling real-time data analysis and advanced research applications. This initiative showcases how collaborative innovation can overcome connectivity barriers in remote field research.
– Written by Lauren Latterell (Student Assistant)
