01
Drill and retain soil samples
Use the dedicated soil auger to reach the selected monitoring depth. If calibration is required, retain separate samples from the target soil layers.
Soil and surface monitoring
RT-1040Soil Moisture & Surface Tilt Sensor
Connect soil-water conditions with surface movement
The RT-1040 combines multi-depth soil moisture measurements with tilt and peak acceleration from occasional vibration. Configure the layers for the target soil profile and connect over 4G Cat.1 for geohazard, hydrology and agricultural monitoring.
- Up to 10
- Monitoring layers; minimum spacing 10 cm
- Better than ±2%
- Soil moisture accuracy with single-point calibration
- Better than ±0.05°
- Tilt accuracy
- 60 months
- Battery life at 2-hour reporting
Working principle
Sense soil moisture through the sealed probe
Fixed-spacing copper-ring electrodes sense the frequency response of the surrounding soil to measure moisture.
- 01Copper-ring electrodes
- Two fixed-spacing copper rings form the sensing electrodes.
- 02Frequency response
- The surrounding soil changes the electromagnetic response as its moisture content changes.
- 03Moisture measurement
- FDR converts this response into soil moisture readings at the configured depths.
Field installation
Prepare the hole, then insert the probe
Drill to the selected monitoring depth and use a native-soil slurry to ensure close contact between the probe and soil.
02
Backfill and insert the probe
Mix native soil with water to form a uniform, thick slurry that does not flow freely. Remove stones and large clods. Fill the hole, then insert the probe slowly to expel air and excess slurry, ensuring close contact with the hole wall.
Installation video
Benefits
Configure layers, observe change and reduce field maintenance
Relate soil moisture to surface movement
Frequency Domain Reflectometry measures moisture at different soil depths. Tilt and peak acceleration from occasional vibration help track changes at the monitoring point.
Configure up to 10 layers for the target soil profile
Supports up to 10 monitoring layers with a minimum spacing of 10 cm. Common configurations include a 40 cm monitoring depth with 4 layers at 10 cm spacing, and an 80 cm monitoring depth with 4 layers at 20 cm spacing.
Scheduled acquisition with tilt-triggered readings
Data is acquired on a schedule. Tilting movement can trigger soil moisture acquisition and reporting, supporting comparison of soil-water conditions and surface movement.
Battery power reduces field maintenance
A lithium thionyl chloride battery provides 60 months of operation at a 2-hour reporting interval. Sealed probe construction and IP68 protection support outdoor soil monitoring.
Applications
Typical applications
Rainfall-induced landslides
Flood and drought monitoring
Soil moisture research
Smart irrigation
Specifications
RT-1040 Specifications
Product support
Documents & selection
Contact our technical team for current product information and project configuration.
Discuss your monitoring requirementsFrequently asked questions
Is calibration required?
Accuracy is better than ±2% with single-point calibration and better than ±4% without calibration. Select the approach for the site soil and project requirements.
How do I select the depth and number of layers?
Monitoring depth is 0–100 cm, with custom depths of 160 cm and 200 cm available. Up to 10 layers are supported at a minimum spacing of 10 cm. Common configurations are 40 cm depth with 4 layers at 10 cm spacing, and 80 cm depth with 4 layers at 20 cm spacing.
How is the device powered?
The device uses a lithium thionyl chloride battery, providing 60 months of operation at a 2-hour reporting interval.
Does it record continuous vibration waveforms?
It reports peak acceleration from occasional vibration with acceleration greater than 10 mg. Select a dedicated vibration product for continuous waveforms or spectrum analysis.