AZS-100 TDR Soil Moisture, Temperature & EC Meter with GPS Positioning
| Origin | Germany |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Origin Category | Imported |
| Model | AZS-100 |
| Pricing | Upon Request |
Overview
The AZS-100 is a field-deployable, high-precision time-domain reflectometry (TDR) soil analyzer engineered for simultaneous in-situ measurement of volumetric water content (VWC), soil temperature, and bulk electrical conductivity (EC). It operates on the physical principle of electromagnetic wave propagation along parallel metallic waveguides embedded in soil: a 1 GHz pulse is launched into the probe, and the travel time of its reflection is measured to determine the apparent dielectric permittivity (εa) of the surrounding medium. Since εa correlates strongly with VWC across a wide range of soil textures—and is minimally affected by salinity or temperature when calibrated appropriately—the AZS-100 delivers robust, physics-based moisture quantification without empirical curve-fitting under standard conditions. Integrated GPS module captures WGS84 coordinates (latitude/longitude) at each measurement, enabling georeferenced spatial mapping of soil hydrological parameters—critical for precision agriculture, watershed-scale hydrology, ecological monitoring, and long-term environmental change studies.
Key Features
- TDR-based triple-parameter acquisition: VWC, soil temperature (±0.2 °C), and bulk EC (0–50 dS/m, segmented range calibration)
- Integrated GNSS receiver supporting GPS, GLONASS, and BeiDou for sub-3-meter horizontal positioning accuracy (CEP)
- Portable handheld design with ruggedized aluminum housing and IP67-rated enclosure for outdoor field use
- Support for up to 32 daisy-chained TDR probes via RS-485 interface, enabling distributed sensor networks
- 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen LCD with high-brightness backlight (1000 cd/m²) for readability under direct sunlight
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack providing ≥8 hours of continuous operation (typical duty cycle)
- On-device data logging: 300,000 records internal buffer + expandable storage via microSD card (up to 16 GB, FAT32 formatted)
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The AZS-100 is compatible with standard 3-rod TDR probes (160 mm active length, 6.0 mm rod diameter, 155 mm × Ø63 mm probe body) and supports calibration protocols aligned with ASTM D5778 (Standard Test Method for Determining the In-Situ Pulse Velocity and Integrity of Deep Foundations) and ISO 11274 (Soil quality — Determination of water retention characteristic curves). Its measurement methodology satisfies requirements for field validation under ISO 10390 (Soil quality — Determination of pH) and ISO 11265 (Soil quality — Determination of electrical conductivity). The device complies with CE marking directives (EMC 2014/30/EU, RoHS 2011/65/EU), and firmware architecture supports audit-trail-enabled data integrity per GLP principles. No user calibration is required for baseline VWC estimation; however, site-specific calibration using gravimetric sampling is recommended for soils with organic matter >15% or clay content >40%.
Software & Data Management
Data export is supported via USB-C connection or microSD card removal, generating timestamped CSV files containing: UTC timestamp, latitude/longitude (WGS84), VWC (% vol), temperature (°C), EC (dS/m), signal quality index (SQI), and probe ID. Optional desktop software (Windows/macOS/Linux) enables batch processing, geospatial visualization (KML export), statistical trend analysis, and automated report generation compliant with FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56 standards. Firmware updates are delivered via signed binary packages with SHA-256 verification; all configuration changes are logged with user ID and timestamp. Data encryption (AES-128) is available for SD card storage upon request to meet institutional data governance policies.
Applications
- Precision irrigation scheduling in orchards, vineyards, and row-crop systems
- Soil moisture network deployment for drought early-warning systems (e.g., USDA NRCS SCAN network architecture)
- Long-term edaphic monitoring in ecological restoration projects and protected natural areas
- Calibration and validation of satellite-derived soil moisture products (e.g., SMAP, Sentinel-1)
- Field validation of vadose zone modeling outputs (HYDRUS-1D, SWAP)
- Regulatory compliance monitoring for landfill cover systems and contaminated site remediation
FAQ
What is the maximum cable length supported between the AZS-100 readout unit and a single TDR probe?
Up to 100 meters using shielded twisted-pair cable (AWG22, 120 Ω impedance); signal degradation beyond this requires inline repeater modules.
Does the device support automatic temperature compensation for EC measurements?
Yes—real-time temperature correction is applied using the built-in thermistor, referencing ISO 11265 Annex A algorithms.
Can raw TDR waveform data be exported for advanced signal processing?
No—only processed parameters (VWC, EC, temp, GPS) are stored; waveform capture requires optional external oscilloscope integration via BNC trigger output.
Is the GPS module certified for use in regulated environmental reporting frameworks?
Yes—the GNSS engine meets ICAO Annex 10 standards for civil aviation-grade positioning; positional metadata conforms to ISO 19115 geospatial metadata schema.
How frequently can measurements be scheduled in unattended mode?
Configurable from 1 minute to 24 hours per interval; minimum power consumption in sleep mode is 12 µA.
