Home > Symposium 2010

The Third International Symposium
On Soil Water Measurement Using Capacitance, Impedance and Time Domain Transmission

 

Organized by:

PALTIN International Inc., in cooperation with CEBAS - Centro de Edafologia y Biologia Aplicada del Segura (Institute of Edaphology and Applied Biology of Segura), a centre of CSIC - Spanish National Research Council

 

Location:

Murcia, Spain

 

 Dates:

April 7 – April 9,  2010

 

International Organizing Committee:

Dr. Ioan Caton Paltineanu – Paltin International Inc., Laurel, Maryland, USA, ioan@paltin.com

Dr. Vaclav Kuraz – Associate Professor, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Irrigation, Drainage and Landscape, Czech Technical University, Prague, Czech Republic, kuraz@fsv.cvut.cz

Dr. James E. Ayars – Water Management Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Parlier, California, USA, James.Ayars@ARS.USDA.GOV 

Dr. Chandra A. Madramootoo – Professor and Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Canada, and President of ICID - CIID, chandra.madramootoo@mcgill.ca 

Dr. Svatopluk Matula - Professor, Head of Department of Water Resources, Faculty of Agrobiology Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic, Matula@af.czu.cz 

Dr. Juan Vera Munoz – scientist at the Spanish Council Research, CEBAS-CSIC, Department of Irrigation, Campus Universitario Espinando, Murcia, Spain, jvera@cebas.csic.es 

Dr. Jeffrey E. Campbell – Vice-President of Sensor Development and Management, Advanced Sensor Technology, Inc., Horseshoe, Idaho, USA, jcampbell@advansedsensors.com

Dr. Ashok Alva - Research Leader and Location Coordinator, USDA-ARS, Vegetable and Forage Crop Research Unit, Prosser, WA, USA, Ashok.Alva@ARS.USDA.GOV

Dr. Hamid J. Farahani – Associate Professor, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA, hfaraha@clemson.edu

 

Local Organizing Committee:

Dr. J.E. Fernandez Luque - IRNASE-CSIC, Sevilla, Spain, jefer@irnase.csic.es

Ing. P. Ferrer Talon, STR-IVIA. Valencia, Spain ,  ferrer_pedtal@ivia.gva.es

Dr. O. Mounzer, CEBAS-CSIC, omounzer@cebas.csic.es

Dr. A. Perez Pastor - Universidad de Cartagena, Spain, alex.perez-pastor@upct.es

Dr. C. M. Regalado - Instituto Inv. Agrarias, Canarias Spain, cregalad@icia.es

Dra. M.C. Ruiz Sanchez - CEBAS-CSIC, Murcia, Spain, mcruiz@cebas.csic.es

Dr. R. Thompson - Universidad de Almeria, Spain, rodney@ual.es

Dr. J. Vera Munoz –CEBAS-CSIC, Murcia, Spain, jvera@cebas.csic.es

 

SYMPOSIUM - 2010 PLANNING

PALTIN's Proposal for the Third International Symposium on Soil Water Measurement using Capacitance, Impedance and Time Domain Transmission, 2010

PALTIN International Inc., an independent research and technology transfer company dealing with real-time water monitoring systems for irrigation, drainage, hydrology and environmental impact studies, is proposing to organize the “Third International Symposium on Soil Water Measurement using Capacitance, Impedance and TDT”, in cooperation with CEBAS - Centro de Edafologia y Biologia Aplicada del Segura (Institute of Edaphology and Applied Biology of Segura), a centre of CSIC – Spanish National Research Council, to be held at Murcia, Spain, on April 7 through April 9, 2010. Research, academia, independent consultants, current and future customers, manufacturers and distributors are cordially invited to support and participate for the success of this symposium.

RATIONALE:

Real-time soil water profile into the root zone of crops measurement still remains the least known parameter into the integral water balance calculations at local, regional, continental and global scales, with direct implications on wisely use of water and soil resources for adequate and efficient food and fiber production, as well as for responsible environmental protection measures. Current model simulation (rainfall, ET, run-off, etc.) derived soil water reserves show a general picture, which must be verified and correlated to the real-time soil water profile measurement in order to offer accurate data for local agricultural management decisions. The same is true for the current and future remote sensing technologies of soil water profile measurement at different space/time scales.

Increased challenges for good quality water resources use are forcing irrigated agricultural production of good quality food and fiber, as well as landscape irrigation(residential, commercial, parks and sport fields) to use alternative low quality water sources(reclaimed water, etc..) with direct implications on soils, crops, atmosphere, surface and ground water resources protection. A new integrated approach of real-time monitoring of water quantity and quality (EC, pH, DO and temperature) from the irrigation source, to soil water profile, bellow root zone leaching, ground water wells and runoff to surface water resources is imperative.

Due to the new developments in research and technology for the last two years, as well as future opportunities in developing multi-parameter sensors (soil water, temperature and conductivity), a reevaluation of the real-time capacitance, impedance and TDT based sensors frequency variation with soil water, soil temperature and soil electrical conductivity, at the same location of measurement, is necessary.

Increased public and independent research and technology efforts to standardize the laboratory calibration methods and techniques of dielectric constant based soil moisture sensors, along with manufacturers bench testing and authorized soil moisture sensors testing organizations, as well as individual efforts for detailed field calibration methods under different types of soils, are welcome. 

Specialized manufacturers should be ready to supply new robust, accurate real-time multi-parameter soil profile monitoring (1- 2m depth) probes to equip the current and future agro-meteorological stations. These multi parameter sensors could perform as independent probes, or could be an integral part of the international network for global evaluation of the “active root zone-plant community-atmosphere interface” related to water, energy and nutrient dynamics at global and regional scales, using satellite telemetry and fast internet data accessibility.

World wide increased demand for irrigation water and fertilizer consumption in the urban developments (private homes, commercial landscapes, parks, and sport fields) determine the rapid pace of introduction of reliable, soil specific calibrated, soil moisture/temperature/EC sensors, to be connected to the current time based irrigation controllers, in order to increase water and fertilizer application efficiencies, as well as reducing pollution of soil, and excess nutrients into underground and surface waters.

Extreme flooding events (by oceans, lakes and rivers) impose technological solutions for real-time monitoring of water dynamics inside of the bodies of earth or concrete constructed dams, dikes, embankments and efficient alarm systems in order to prevent large losses of human and animal life, infrastructure and properties.

Robust, low power consumption, resistant under extreme environmental conditions, future data acquisition and telemetry systems (radio, satellite) must perform flawlessly, and at the same time being capable of serving a multitude of sensors, and software packages. Frequent updating of software, as is the customarily practice, on the expense of customers should be avoided.

Independent consultants role for in site specific calibration of probes and their direct work with the end users (of any educational background and experience) for proper installation and use of capacitance, impedance and TDT probes and related data acquisition, telemetry, software packages, is still of utmost importance. Industry should not consider the use of these technologies as part of the general marketing (over the counter) procedure. We are not, and should not be overzealously, there yet.

Finally, it is to be noted that a capacitance based soil water/EC/temperature measuring sensor was chosen to be used in exploration of possible traces of water on Mars, and possible on our Terra’s natural satellite, Moon. Let us wish our scientists, engineers and inventors, God Speed, to explore the most precious element to sustain life in the universe, WATER.

SYMPOSIUM TENTATIVE AGENDA: Four forms of participation are envisaged:

1) Paper presentations (5 to 10 pages) to be reviewed by members of the organizing committee and a panel of voluntary reviewers, and finally published in Proceedings of the Third Symposium - 2010;

2) Poster presentation. Reviewed Abstracts (one page text) will be published in the Proceedings of the Third Symposium - 2010;

3) Technical exhibition for manufacturers to demonstrate their sensors, probes, data acquisition, telemetry systems, and software packages;

4) Laboratory and field visits to the research institutions, academia and private customers using capacitance, impedance and TDT probes and real-time monitoring systems in the Murcia Province, Spain.

CONTACT:

All correspondence related to Third Symposium – 2010 will be addressed or redirected to Dr. Ioan Caton Paltineanu at ioan@paltin.com  with a copy to Dr. Juan Vera Munoz at jvera@cebas.csic.es

BROCHURE:

A brochure containing details on the Third International Symposium will be available at www.paltin.com and  www.cebas.csic.es Symposium 2010, in order to be downloaded by the interested colleagues.

CORPORATE SPONSORS:

International, national and regional corporations and non-government institutions are cordially invited to co-sponsor or sponsor the Third Symposium Transactions and possible a book on the state of the art and challenges for the capacitance, impedance and TDT real-time monitoring probes and telemetry systems, with the final purpose of improving and preserving our planet’s global water and soil resources.  

MAIN TOPICS FOR PAPERS, POSTERS AND DISCCUSSIONS (other topics can be added with the approval of the Organizing Committee):

Presentations of original research, technical and synthesis papers (oral, multimedia and posters) regarding: The STATE OF THE ART, and FIELD SCALE APPLICATIONS, including future directions, will cover the following topics:

1) THE STATE OF THE ART:

1.1. Theory: dielectric properties of porous media; effects of operating frequency sensors performance; relationship between water content, temperature, salinity and reading frequencies; permittivity vs. water content, etc.;

1.2. New developments: multi parameter sensors, ground wireless transmission of data, logging facilities, telemetry systems, software, etc.;

1.3. Calibration: Methodology (laboratory and field); Mineralogy; Shrinking and Swelling media; High organic content media; Saline conditions; Layered soils; Zone of influence (axial and radial); statistics for intrinsic soil characteristics etc.. New proposals for standardization of laboratory and field calibration methods and techniques of dielectric constant based soil water/EC/temperature sensors are welcome.

1
.4. Development of new real-time soil water/temperature/EC profile dynamics monitoring data based computer models for large areas;

1.5. Spatial monitoring and remote monitoring:

1.5.1. Soil water content (surface and profile) monitoring over large research/application areas (ground truth);

1.5.2. Telemetry of data: Radio frequencies, cellular phones, aircraft, satellites;

1.6. Global, continental, regional distribution of capacitance, impedance and TDT probes, monitoring and telemetry systems over large areas for research, practical applications and educational programs (High Schools, Colleges, Public at large);

1.7. Future directions: Global network for real-time soil water profile dynamics vs. remote sensing monitoring; etc.

II) APPLICATIONS CASE STUDIES:

2.1. Research oriented studies over large areas using GPS and GIS data (climate change, drought, flood, agriculture, forestry, hydrology, and environmental impact studies). Integrated real-time monitoring studies of water quantity and quality from irrigation water source to soil water/EC/temperature profile, underground leaching, groundwater observation wells, run-off to surface water resources;

2.2. Aircraft and orbital platforms remote sensing calibration data versus "ground truth" real-time soil moisture/temperature/EC profile dynamics monitoring and telemetry systems data, using GPS and GIS data;

2.3. Irrigation and drainage in agricultural settings such as field and vegetable crops, fruit trees, vineyards;

2.4. Real-time soil moisture based irrigation controllers for private homes, sports fields (soccer, football, baseball, golf courses, etc...), public parks, and commercial landscape architectural projects;

2.5. Land reclamation, rural development, civil engineering, construction (dams, dicks, embankments, highways, bridges, airports, concrete structures) and real-time monitoring, mining works;

2.6. Waste disposal sites for nuclear and non-nuclear materials;

2.7. Landmine location signature, environmental soil water, atmosphere characterization for better landmine (or improvised devices) detection and neutralization.

2.8. Future directions.

III) TENTATIVE AGENDA:

1) Pre-registration: Participant’s name and complete address, Title of Paper, Poster, Co-Authors names and addresses. Participation of companies with a booth at the Technical Exhibition, or just individual participation at our symposium in the audience should be addressed too. Send email to Dr. Ioan Caton Paltineanu at ioan@paltin.com with a copy to Dr. Juan Vera Munoz at jvera@cebas.csic.es, before November 15, 2009;

2) Paper and poster presentations one page abstract in English, Spanish or French: (authors, addresses, and text maximum one page 8.5" X 11", MS Word, double spaced, 1" margin top/base, 1" margin left/right, use 12 point font Times New Roman type for Title, all other text use 10 point font Times New Roman type. A second one page abstract in English will be provided by participants willing to present their papers and posters in Spanish or French. Send all abstracts to Dr. Ioan C. Paltineanu at ioan@paltin.com with a copy to Dr. Juan Vera Munoz at jvera@cebas.csic.es before November 15, 2009;

3) Organizing Committee response with acceptance of the Abstracts: November 30, 2009;

4) Full text paper in English, Spanish or French (maximum 10 pages including title, authors, addresses, introduction, methods and materials, results, discussions, recommendations, conclusions, tables and figures and references, MS Word, double spaced). Full text papers in Spanish or French will include titles, abstract, conclusions and recommendations, subtitles of tables and figures, in English too. Send to Dr. Ioan C. Paltineanu at ioan@paltin.com, with a copy to Dr. Juan Vera Munoz at jvera@cebas.csic.es, before December 15, 2009.

5) Full Registration (including fees for participation with papers, posters, exhibits, sponsorship). Send to Dr. Juan Vera (jvera@cebas.csic.es), Murcia, Spain, before December 15, 2009;

6) Return papers to authors, with peer review observations by February 07, 2010.

7) Final draft, ready for publication, will be send back to Dr. Ioan C. Paltineanu, at ioan@paltin.com before March 07, 2010.

8) Participants will receive at the opening of Symposium: a hard copy booklet containing the Invited Keynote Speaker lecture and the local Welcome Address lecture, as well as all full length peer reviewed papers (10 pages/each) and peer reviewed one page abstract for poster presentations; a list with names and addresses of all participants; a list with international and local organization committees. Also there will be a CD ROM or STICK MEMORY with all full length peer reviewed papers and abstracts of poster presentations.

9) At the recommendation of the Organizing Committee, the Sponsors are welcome to provide additional funds for editing and publishing a book on "Capacitance, Impedance and Time Domain Transmission probes for real-time soil water/EC/temperature/ profile monitoring: Theory and Practical Applications"

10) Visits to CEBAS and other laboratories, large field scale studies, practical applications and demonstrations, will be included in the program, too.

IV) SPONSORS AND COLLABORATORS:

National and international non-governmental societies, state and federal agencies, universities, private companies and foundations interested in promoting non nuclear real-time soil water/EC/temperature measurement probes, monitoring and telemetry systems based on Capacitance, Impedance and Time Domain Transmission, are welcomed to offer sponsorship and will be recognized in the Symposium's Transactions.

V) PARTICIPATION FEES:

See the Third International Symposium – 2010 REGISTRATION FORM