A system comprising: a first vehicle including: a first vehicle node ; and a plurality of sensors , wherein the first vehicle node is configured to perform a method including: determining a group system corresponding to the first vehicle, wherein the group system is located apart from the first vehicle; characterized in that the method includes receiving operating data from the plurality of sensors; processing the operating data to generate monitoring data corresponding to the first vehicle; managing network communication data regarding a plurality of vehicle nodes (14A-14C) in communication with the group system, wherein the managing includes maintaining the network communication data based on a first set of vehicle nodes with which the first vehicle node can currently communicate and data identifying current communications connectivity between other vehicle nodes in the plurality of vehicle nodes received from at least one other vehicle node in the plurality of vehicle nodes; determining a most efficient communications route for communicating with the group system according to the network communication data; and transmitting the monitoring data for processing on the group system using the most efficient communications route, wherein the first vehicle node has a communications range of less than one kilometer. a first vehicle node ; and a plurality of sensors , wherein the first vehicle node is configured to perform a method including: determining a group system corresponding to the first vehicle, wherein the group system is located apart from the first vehicle; characterized in that the method includes receiving operating data from the plurality of sensors; processing the operating data to generate monitoring data corresponding to the first vehicle; managing network communication data regarding a plurality of vehicle nodes (14A-14C) in communication with the group system, wherein the managing includes maintaining the network communication data based on a first set of vehicle nodes with which the first vehicle node can currently communicate and data identifying current communications connectivity between other vehicle nodes in the plurality of vehicle nodes received from at least one other vehicle node in the plurality of vehicle nodes; determining a most efficient communications route for communicating with the group system according to the network communication data; and transmitting the monitoring data for processing on the group system using the most efficient communications route, wherein the first vehicle node has a communications range of less than one kilometer. determining a group system corresponding to the first vehicle, wherein the group system is located apart from the first vehicle; characterized in that the method includes receiving operating data from the plurality of sensors; processing the operating data to generate monitoring data corresponding to the first vehicle; managing network communication data regarding a plurality of vehicle nodes (14A-14C) in communication with the group system, wherein the managing includes maintaining the network communication data based on a first set of vehicle nodes with which the first vehicle node can currently communicate and data identifying current communications connectivity between other vehicle nodes in the plurality of vehicle nodes received from at least one other vehicle node in the plurality of vehicle nodes; determining a most efficient communications route for communicating with the group system according to the network communication data; and transmitting the monitoring data for processing on the group system using the most efficient communications route, wherein the first vehicle node has a communications range of less than one kilometer. <EOS>