Chet Udell

Chet Udell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering at Oregon State University. His work focuses on developing open-source, low-cost environmental sensing systems for ecological and agricultural applications. He leads the OPEnS Lab, which emphasizes collaborative, community-driven instrumentation design.

Research Interests include wireless sensor networks, swarm sensing, and integrating music composition principles with engineering. Notable projects include the WeatherChimes IoT station, SitkaNet landslide monitoring systems, and the Pied Piper insect detection device. Udell’s innovations often bridge hardware design with real-world environmental challenges.

Publications emphasize open-source solutions for ecological monitoring, including sensor networks, robotics, and data sonification. His work frequently addresses cost barriers in environmental science, enabling broader access to advanced tools.

• Awards: Best Performance Award, GA Tech New Musical Instrument Competition (2017)
• Labs/Teams: OPEnS Lab (Openly Published Environmental Sensing)
• Media: Featured in articles on pest monitoring, spiderharp musical instruments, and landslide detection systems.