A method of collecting data in a system that includes a plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n) connected via an arbitrating data bus, the method comprising: entering, by the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), a listening mode of an event monitoring mode, wherein each of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n) digitize and monitor first sensed data; detecting during the listening mode, by a first one of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), a first event based upon the first sensed data; outputting during the listening mode, by the first one of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), a first event message on the arbitrating data bus, wherein the first event message specifies which of second ones of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n) should act upon the first event message and what second sensed data the second ones of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n) should collect in response to the first event message; monitoring, by a host node, the arbitrating data bus for the first event message; detecting, by second ones of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), the first event message on the arbitrating data bus; exiting, by the first one and the second ones of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), the listening mode; entering, by the first one and the second ones of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), a first event data collection mode of the event monitoring mode; recording, by the first one and the second ones of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), second sensed data as first event data, whereby the amount of event data collected is based upon the first event message, a type of the first event, or is specified by the host node prior to detecting, by the first one of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), the first event; exiting, by the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), the first event data collection mode following completion of the first event data collection mode; and obtaining, by the host node, the first and second sensed data from the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n) based upon receipt of the first event message. entering, by the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), a listening mode of an event monitoring mode, wherein each of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n) digitize and monitor first sensed data; detecting during the listening mode, by a first one of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), a first event based upon the first sensed data; outputting during the listening mode, by the first one of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), a first event message on the arbitrating data bus, wherein the first event message specifies which of second ones of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n) should act upon the first event message and what second sensed data the second ones of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n) should collect in response to the first event message; monitoring, by a host node, the arbitrating data bus for the first event message; detecting, by second ones of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), the first event message on the arbitrating data bus; exiting, by the first one and the second ones of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), the listening mode; entering, by the first one and the second ones of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), a first event data collection mode of the event monitoring mode; recording, by the first one and the second ones of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), second sensed data as first event data, whereby the amount of event data collected is based upon the first event message, a type of the first event, or is specified by the host node prior to detecting, by the first one of the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), the first event; exiting, by the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n), the first event data collection mode following completion of the first event data collection mode; and obtaining, by the host node, the first and second sensed data from the plurality of sensing nodes (12a-12n) based upon receipt of the first event message.