Researchers at Colorado State University have developed an underground sensor network to measure soil moisture by quantifying how changes in soil water content affect the attenuation of radio signals between buried sensor nodes. The network can provide highly granular soil data with minimal infrastructure. The sensors are low-cost and easy to deploy across large areas. Data is transmitted to the cloud, enabling remote monitoring and smarter water management decisions.
Soil moisture plays a critical role in agriculture, water management, and environmental systems, but it is highly variable and difficult to measure accurately across large areas. Traditional sensing systems are expensive, require wired connections or towers, and are not scalable for widespread deployment. As a result, water management decisions are often made with limited or outdated data. Advances in low-cost electronics and IoT connectivity now enable new approaches that can deliver continuous, distributed soil measurements more efficiently.
This technology introduces a network of buried wireless sensor nodes that communicate using radio signals traveling through both soil and air. Instead of relying on traditional probes, the system determines soil moisture by measuring how much the soil attenuates (weakens) these signals. Because water content directly affects signal strength, the network can infer moisture levels across the monitored area.
The sensors are designed to be low-cost and minimally invasive, allowing dense deployment across fields or landscapes without the need for wiring or multiple radio towers. Once installed, the network continuously collects data and transmits it to an above-ground gateway, which relays the information to cloud-based platforms. This enables real-time monitoring and integration with automated irrigation systems, improving water efficiency and operational decision-making.
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Jay Ham
Jessy McGowan
Jessy.McGowan@colostate.edu
970-491-7100