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Moisture Detection in Tree Trunks in Semiarid Lands Using Low-Cost Non-Invasive Capacitive Sensors with Statistical
Ashraf Ali1, Ahmad Ali2, Hussein Abaluof3
1Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 28, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a low-cost, non-invasive sensor for measuring tree trunk moisture in arid environments. The system accurately tracks water content, aiding in tree health monitoring and water management.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Agricultural Engineering
- Sensor Technology
Background:
- Semiarid lands face water scarcity, impacting tree health and ecosystem stability.
- Accurate monitoring of tree water status is crucial for effective water resource management and conservation efforts.
- Existing methods for assessing tree water content can be invasive or costly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a non-invasive, low-cost sensor for quantifying tree trunk moisture content in semiarid environments.
- To propose a novel mathematical definition for characterizing tree water retention capabilities.
- To enable early detection of tree stress or disease through continuous moisture monitoring.
Main Methods:
- Designed a capacitance-based sensor operating at 100 kHz with amplification and filtering stages.
- Utilized a Long Range (LoRa) transceiver for wireless data transmission to a central processing unit.
- Conducted field experiments on various tree types in semiarid conditions.
- Employed statistical analysis, including eigenvectors and eigenvalues, to detect anomalies in sensor readings.
Main Results:
- The sensor system demonstrated accurate readings of tree trunk moisture content.
- Moisture content showed an exponential increase with measured capacitance, varying distinctly between tree types.
- The non-invasive design allowed application to diverse trunk and branch sizes without damaging wood tissue.
- Statistical analysis successfully identified anomalies indicative of unhealthy trees or sensor defects.
Conclusions:
- The developed sensor provides a reliable and cost-effective solution for monitoring tree water status in semiarid regions.
- The sensor's data can be used to assess tree health, optimize irrigation, and understand water dynamics in trees.
- The mathematical characterization and anomaly detection methods offer advanced tools for ecological research and forest management.
