Soil Sensors
The digital transformation of the 21st century has revolutionized soil monitoring by introducing smart sensor technologies that enable accurate and near-continuous data collection across space and time. A wide range of near-field and remote sensing techniques are now available, spanning the electromagnetic spectrum. These methods offer faster, more flexible, and more cost-effective complements to traditional soil analysis, which is often time-consuming and expensive. Furthermore, they support both high-resolution and three-dimensional soil mapping. Companies and agricultural communities worldwide are increasingly using these advanced sensor technologies for a variety of purposes, including precision agriculture, archaeology, environmental monitoring, industrial processes, and urban soil remediation. We leverage these advanced methods for multivariate analysis of soil properties in the laboratory, as well as for mapping in the field and detecting underground features such as agricultural drainage pipes. Our research not only advances the science behind sensor-based soil analysis but also actively promotes collaboration with industry and practitioners to translate research into practical tools for agricultural innovation, environmental assessment, and sustainable land management.
On-the-go and field-based methods:
Electromagnetic Induction (EMI)
Dual depth electrical resistance (ER)
Electrical resistance tomography (ERT)
Ground penetrating radar (GPR)
Gamma ray spectroscopy (GRS)
Time domain reflectometry (TDR)
Gamma ray bulk density sensor (RhoC)
Drones and multiband cameras (RGB, multispectral and thermal infrared)
Heavy payload drones for geophysical instruments
Quadruped robots
Laboratory methods:
Visible Near-Infrared (vis-NIR)
Mid Infrared (MIR)
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
