Title: SoilSCAPE Wireless Sensor Network: Demonstration of Energy Efficiency, Extensibility, and NASA Mission Cal/Val Support
Presenting Author: Mahta Moghaddam
Organization: University of Southern California
Co-Author(s): Angelo Silva, Ruzbeh Akbar, S. Abbas Hussaini, Dan Clewley, Jane Whitcomb

Abstract:
The SoilSCAPE Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) consists of 8 independent networks that cover areas in North-Central California, Southern Arizona, and Oklahoma. With well over 100 individual in-situ soil moisture sensor profiles, we have developed and demonstrated SoilSCAPE technology for streamlined end-to-end near real-time data delivery in multiple landscapes. The network consists of custom-made intelligent sensing electronics that are minimally impacted by environmental conditions (owing to non-rechargeable cells), have short and long term on-board memory for data redundancy, and have 3G/4G data connectivity to the Data Server at the University of Southern California. Due to their high energy efficiency, the wireless sensor nodes have been shown to achieve a battery lifetime of 2 years at a 20 min sampling rate. SoilSCAPE soil moisture data and the associated sparse-network upscaling algorithms we have developed are currently being used in (a) supporting the NASA Soil Moisture Active-Passive (SMAP) and Airborne Microwave Observatory of Subcanopy and Subsurface (AirMOSS) Calibration and Validation (Cal/Val) activities (b) Small scale and regional hydrological and surface flow studies (Arizona) and (c) Electromagnetic scattering model validation and development efforts (California). We will present recent SoilSCAPE sensor deployments in Arizona as well as examples of SoilSCAPE data utilization within the science community. Lessons learned over the network operational life cycle and future consideration will also be discussed.