POF based moisture and pH sensor in soils for e-Agriculture applications.

P Fiadzomor, B Hamza, Patricia Scully, M Benyezzar, C Qiao, J Vaughan, B Grieve, K Ozanyan, D Pearson

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    Abstract

    Sensitised Polymer Optical Fibre (POF) sensors have been developed to measure moisture and pH in a variety of environments. This study aims to provide a capability for the monitoring of spatial differences around the root systems of developing plants. Mapping localised variations and temporal changes in moisture and pH provides a method for imaging soil behaviour and the effect of micro-organisms within. Tests are performed using water, foam, sand, and agricultural soil with moisture levels between 10 and 40% W/W, and pH range from 5 to 8 pH units using a length of polymer optical fibre (POF) with a decladded or sensitised region along its length. Continuous wave (CW) optical sources (either laser or LED based) are used to interrogate the fibres and each fibre type is characterised to demonstrate its response to moisture and pH.By alternating various procedures which expose and then remove the decladded or sensitised fibres from the experimental measurement setup, high repeatability and measurement accuracy are demonstrated. This provides an accurate means for deploying either single sensors as an array or puts forward an adequate technique for producing distributed sensors using optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR).
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceeding of Photon12
    Place of PublicationLondon, UK
    PublisherIOP Publishing Ltd
    Publication statusPublished - 4 Sept 2012
    EventPhoton 12 - University of Durham, Durham, UK
    Duration: 3 Sept 20126 Sept 2012

    Conference

    ConferencePhoton 12
    CityUniversity of Durham, Durham, UK
    Period3/09/126/09/12

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