I learned that the most accurate moisture sensors use alpha particle absorption to measure water content in soil. The detector is installed underground and an alpha particle emitter is installed on the surface. This solution is too complicated for makers... for now. But it occurs to me that we, the makers, can measure water absorption by measuring the attenuation of a wifi signal. By putting a wifi emitter underground and the detector on the surface, let's say with two esp32s, we could measure water absorption simply by measuring the intensity of the wifi signal. Are you up for it?
My bad, there is already a paper titled "Towards low cost soil sensing using wifi" by Jian Ding and Ranveer Chandra, 2019. But, it seems simple to implement it.
Interesting! You could make a map of your yard's soil moisture using wifi emitters placed strategically around your yard. If you send me some data, I'd be happy to sonify for it you 😉.
@@ModestMakerI think I will try the wifi method. I live in the southern hemisphere, in a subtropical region where it starts to rain in november. I would first prepare a single sensor and measure only at one point, to check some relationship between wifi signal attenuation and rainy days. Only if there is a logical correspondence would I put more sensors. I have a good amount of esp8266 that I can use.
Nice work. Bravo. 1. The data correlates with information I have seen from other sources. Mulch tends to drop soil temps about 6-10 degrees, and extends this cooling effect over several days and weeks. Of course - everything depends on your location. 2. I would be very interested in seeing your your logger would work with three locations (a) baseline plot with no mulch, (b) a plot with 3 inches of mulch, and (c) six inches. Further, it would be helpful to gather data much further past the rainy season, looking at how well the mulch holds the soil. Your HOA could save a LOT of money, spreading large amounts of mulch over the property, and saving on your water use. 3. I dont know how much data sonification will help to display//demonstrate your data. The temperature data you displayed is INTERVAL based data, with each increase/decrease in data points representing a linear change in quantity. The musical (PITCH and LOUDNESS) representations, are log based 2, so that every time your temperature data jumps up a degree, you get a larger (and confusing) increase in pitch. Still, these data transformation schemes are pretty cool to play around with, and it never hurts to give it a try. Keep going. Dr. JHB (Speech/Hearing Scientist; 3D printing enthusiast; Los Angeles)
Thanks Jim for your thoughtful comments. Our HOA has been very successful in using these strategies over the years- more details here: th-cam.com/video/sI1wfKOF99o/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ap5hOdEJdoCeucpZ . Through careful accounting relative to baseline conditions, we've managed to save over five-million gallons of water over the years by doing simple things like applying mulch; installing water harvesting basins; and paying close attention to our irrigation with volunteers shutting things down after monsoons to avoid waste. Regarding sonification, your points are reasonable with the understanding that I'm brand new to this so still working on how to make this approach "sing". Being an avid water conservation guy and music lover, it was a natural thing to see how I might marry them both 😋. Appreciate your interest in all this!
Very interesting, thank you very much for sharing
Thanks for checking it out! It was a fun project.
WOW! This is just toooo cool!
Thanks Greg - would be cool to do something like this for Biosphere 2😉.
I learned that the most accurate moisture sensors use alpha particle absorption to measure water content in soil. The detector is installed underground and an alpha particle emitter is installed on the surface. This solution is too complicated for makers... for now. But it occurs to me that we, the makers, can measure water absorption by measuring the attenuation of a wifi signal. By putting a wifi emitter underground and the detector on the surface, let's say with two esp32s, we could measure water absorption simply by measuring the intensity of the wifi signal. Are you up for it?
My bad, there is already a paper titled "Towards low cost soil sensing using wifi" by Jian Ding and Ranveer Chandra, 2019. But, it seems simple to implement it.
Interesting! You could make a map of your yard's soil moisture using wifi emitters placed strategically around your yard. If you send me some data, I'd be happy to sonify for it you 😉.
@@ModestMakerI think I will try the wifi method. I live in the southern hemisphere, in a subtropical region where it starts to rain in november. I would first prepare a single sensor and measure only at one point, to check some relationship between wifi signal attenuation and rainy days. Only if there is a logical correspondence would I put more sensors. I have a good amount of esp8266 that I can use.
Keep us posted!
Nice work. Bravo.
1. The data correlates with information I have seen from other sources. Mulch tends to drop soil temps about 6-10 degrees, and extends this cooling effect over several days and weeks. Of course - everything depends on your location.
2. I would be very interested in seeing your your logger would work with three locations (a) baseline plot with no mulch, (b) a plot with 3 inches of mulch, and (c) six inches. Further, it would be helpful to gather data much further past the rainy season, looking at how well the mulch holds the soil. Your HOA could save a LOT of money, spreading large amounts of mulch over the property, and saving on your water use.
3. I dont know how much data sonification will help to display//demonstrate your data. The temperature data you displayed is INTERVAL based data, with each increase/decrease in data points representing a linear change in quantity. The musical (PITCH and LOUDNESS) representations, are log based 2, so that every time your temperature data jumps up a degree, you get a larger (and confusing) increase in pitch. Still, these data transformation schemes are pretty cool to play around with, and it never hurts to give it a try.
Keep going.
Dr. JHB (Speech/Hearing Scientist; 3D printing enthusiast; Los Angeles)
Thanks Jim for your thoughtful comments.
Our HOA has been very successful in using these strategies over the years- more details here: th-cam.com/video/sI1wfKOF99o/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ap5hOdEJdoCeucpZ . Through careful accounting relative to baseline conditions, we've managed to save over five-million gallons of water over the years by doing simple things like applying mulch; installing water harvesting basins; and paying close attention to our irrigation with volunteers shutting things down after monsoons to avoid waste.
Regarding sonification, your points are reasonable with the understanding that I'm brand new to this so still working on how to make this approach "sing". Being an avid water conservation guy and music lover, it was a natural thing to see how I might marry them both 😋. Appreciate your interest in all this!