Guide to adding soil moisture and temperature sensors for single-depth or multi-depth subsurface monitoring.
How the Sensors Work
The 3D-PAWS system supports two types of soil moisture sensors for monitoring subsurface conditions: the Tinovi PM-WCS-3-I2C and the Tinovi SOIL-MULTI-5-I2C. Both use non-contact capacitive sensing technology to measure the volumetric water content (VWC) and temperature of the soil. This approach minimizes corrosion and provides stable, long-term performance compared to traditional resistive sensors.
The PM-WCS-3-I2C measures soil moisture and temperature at a single depth and communicates via an I2C interface. Up to eight sensors can be connected using a Grove I2C Multiplexer (TCA9548A), allowing simultaneous monitoring at multiple depths or locations. The SOIL-MULTI-5-I2C, by contrast, measures VWC at five depths (10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, and 50 cm) and temperature at two depths (10 cm and 50 cm) along a single probe. Each level provides an averaged reading representative of conditions at that depth. Together, these sensors enable the 3D-PAWS system to produce detailed profiles of soil moisture and temperature, improving understanding of infiltration, root-zone processes, and overall soil water dynamics.
Applications
The soil moisture sensors are ideal for hydrological, agricultural, and environmental monitoring applications. They provide key data for studying soil-water balance, infiltration rates, root-zone moisture dynamics, and soil temperature gradients. When deployed as part of the 3D-PAWS network, these sensors support research on land–atmosphere interactions and improve understanding of how soil moisture influences weather, climate, and ecosystem processes.
Instruction Slides for Adding the Tinovi PM-WCS-3-I2C
PM-WCS-3-I2C Installation Tool
Instruction Slides for Adding the Tinovi SOIL-MULTI-5-I2C
