• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2009

This study was to verify and calibrate seven kinds of soil water sensors for volumetric soil water content(VSWC) measurement under field. Types of sensors were TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) and FDR(Frequency Domain Reflectometry). Two kinds of TDR were TRIME(profile type), and Mini-TRASE(rod type). Five kinds of FDR were EasyAG, EnviroSCAN, PR-1(profile type), and WET-1(rod type). VSWC by TRIME and Mini-TRASE compared with VSWC by soil core showed the standard error of about 2.4%, and 1.4% which is the smallest value among all the sensors used in the experiment, respectively. The errors of EasyAG and EnviroSCAN analyzed with scaled frequency(SF) were about 2.6%, and 2.8% and those by 1 versus 1 correspondence were about 2.6%, and 2.6%, respectively. WET-1 showed about 2.0% of error, which is the smallest value among errors by FDR sensors. PR-1 with the error of about 4.7% should be hard for application in field. Therefore, users on soil water sensors have to take into consideration the errors of sensors revealed after the calibration for the correct measurement of VSWC in field. The rest except for PR-1 among the sensors could be used for VSWC measurement with 1.4~2.6% error.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.401-408
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• 2022

As research on a controlled environment system based on crop growth environment sensing for sustainable production of horticultural crops and its industrial use has been important, research on how to properly utilize soil moisture sensors for outdoor cultivation is being actively conducted. This experiment was conducted to suggest the proper method of utilizing the TEROS 12, an FDR (frequency domain reflectometry) sensor, which is frequently used in industry and research fields, for each orchard soil in three regions in Korea. We collected soils from each orchard where fruit trees were grown, investigated the soil characteristics and soil water retention curve, and compared TEROS 12 sensor calibration equations to correlate the sensor output to the corresponding soil volumetric water content through linear and cubic regressions for each soil sample. The estimated value from the calibration equation provided by the manufacturer was also compared. The soil collected from all three orchards showed different soil characteristics and volumetric water content values by each soil water retention level across the soil samples. In addition, the cubic calibration equation for TEROS 12 sensor showed the highest coefficient of determination higher than 0.95, and the lowest RMSE for all soil samples. When estimating volumetric water contents from TEROS 12 sensor output using the calibration equation provided by the manufacturer, their calculated volumetric water contents were lower than the actual volumetric water contents, with the difference up to 0.09-0.17 m³·m^-3 depending on the soil samples, indicating an appropriate calibration for each soil should be preceded before FDR sensor utilization. Also, there was a difference in the range of soil volumetric water content corresponding to the soil water retention levels across the soil samples, suggesting that the soil water retention information should be required to properly interpret the volumetric water content value of the soil. Moreover, soil with a high content of sand had a relatively narrow range of volumetric water contents for irrigation, thus reducing the accuracy of an FDR sensor measurement. In conclusion, analyzing soil water retention characteristics of the target soil and the soil-specific calibration would be necessary to properly quantify the soil water status and determine their adequate irrigation point using an FDR sensor.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2016

Water drainage from the open hydroponics often causes significant environmental pollution due to agrochemicals and loss of water and nutrients. The objectives of this study were to show the potential application of an irrigation schedule based on threshold values of volumetric substrate water content for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Samsamgu') cultivation in a commercial hydroponic farm during spring to summer cultivation. This study was performed for minimizing effluent from coir substrate hydroponics using a frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor-automated irrigation, as compared with an integrated solar-radiation (IR) and conventional timer-irrigation (TIMER) after transplanting. In results, no significant difference in daily irrigation volume was found among the treatments until 88 days after transplant (DAT). However, during the 88 to 107 DAT, the daily irrigation volume was in the order of IR (2125 mL) > TIMER (2063 mL) > FDR (1983 mL), and during the 108 to 120 DAT, it was in the order of IR (2000 mL) > TIMER (1664 mL) > FDR (1500 mL). The lowest drainage volume was observed in the FDR treatment with the order of IR (12~19%) > TIMER (4~12%) > FDR (0~7%) during the entire growing period. A lower irrigation volume in the FDR treatment after 88 DAT may be due to the sensor's detecting capacity for less water absorption by plant after completing fruit maturity with apical pruning and removal of lower leaves, while a higher irrigation volume in the IR treatment may be due to gradual increase in integrated solar-radiation amount as closer to summer season. There was no significant difference in plant growth and fruit yield among the treatments; however, a 11% and 18% of higher soluble sugar content was observed in the FDR than that of TIMER and IR treatment. respectively.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.183-189
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• 2018

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of plant growth and production of tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill cv. Tefunis) according to the water content of non-recycled rockwool culture in high-rise tomato greenhouse. Daily irrigation amount was 3.8 times higher in the irrigation control by Integrated Solar Radiation (ISR) than in the Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) sensor. Water content of ISR and FDR was 90-95 and 60-65%, respectively. Plant height and weight of tomato fruit was 1.2-1.9 times longer and 1.2-2.0 times heavier in the ISR than in the FDR sensor, respectively. No significantly differed to sugar content of tomato by treatments. Marketable fruits were the higher 1.3 times in the ISR compared with the FDR sensor. Cracking percentage in the ISR was also the higher 2.0 times compared with FDR sensor. Therefore, Irrigation control by ISR was appropriate to improve of plant growth and production of tomato with non-recycled rockwool culture in greenhouse during long-term cultivation.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2019

The major purpose of this study is to construct an in-situ soil moisture verification network employing Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) sensors for Cosmic-ray soil moisture observation system operation as well as long-term field-scale soil moisture monitoring. The test bed of Cosmic-ray and FDR verification network system was established at the Sulma Catchment, in connection with the existing instrumentations for integrated data provision of various hydrologic variables. This test bed includes one Cosmic-ray Neutron Probe (CRNP) and ten FDR stations with four different measurement depths (10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, and 40 cm) at each station, and has been operating since July 2018. Furthermore, to assess the reliability of the in-situ verification network, the volumetric water content data measured by FDR sensors were compared to those calculated through the core sampling method. The evaluation results of FDR sensors- measured soil moisture against sampling method during the study period indicated a reasonable agreement, with average values of $bias=-0.03m^3/m^3$ and RMSE $0.03m^3/m^3$, revealing that this FDR network is adequate to provide long-term reliable field-scale soil moisture monitoring at Sulmacheon basin. In addition, soil moisture time series observed at all FDR stations during the study period generally respond well to the rainfall events; and at some locations, the characteristics of rainfall water intercepted by canopy were also identified. The Temporal Stability Analysis (TSA) was performed for all FDR stations located within the CRNP footprint at each measurement depth to determine the representative locations for field-average soil moisture at different soil profiles of the verification network. The TSA results showed that superior performances were obtained at FDR 5 for 10 cm depth, FDR 8 for 20 cm depth, FDR2 for 30 cm depth, and FDR1 for 40 cm depth, respectively; demonstrating that those aforementioned stations can be regarded as temporal stable locations to represent field mean soil moisture measurements at their corresponding measurement depths. Although the limit on study duration has been presented, the analysis results of this study can provide useful knowledge on soil moisture variability and stability at the test bed, as well as supporting the utilization of the Cosmic-ray observation system for long-term field-scale soil moisture monitoring.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2015

To improve crop productivity with optimal water management in soilless culture, the information of physical characteristics of the root medium including water behavior should be required. The objectives of this study were to analyze the physical characteristics including hydraulic properties of the root media commercially used and to analyze the relationships between actual moisture content and measured one by FDR sensor. The weight of the medium was measured by load cell for calculating the actual moisture content. The accuracy of the moisture content measured by FDR sensor was obtained by comparing with the actual one. The water holding capacity of the coir was lower than those of the rockwool due to the features of large and rough particles of the coir. The moisture content measured by FDR sensor showed large difference from the actual moisture contents measured by loadcell, indicating that the calibration of FDR sensor is needed before starting measurement. The optimum range of moisture content for irrigation control was narrow in the coir than the rockwool due to the lower water holding capacity and rehydration capability of the coir. The results of this study can be useful in establishing adequate irrigation strategies in the soilless culture.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.715-726
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• 2018

Various methods, such as geophysical exploration, temperature measurement, and fiber optics, have been developed for detecting the seepage at a dam. In this study, in order to investigate the possibility of leakage detection using dielectric constant of FDR sensor, a physical model consisting of weak and no-weak zones is fabricated and the sensors for dielectric constant, temperature and pore water pressure measurements are installed. As a leakage happens, the dielectric constant changes more rapidly through a weak zone than no-weak zone. In addition, comparing three factors (dielectric constant, temperature, and pore water pressure), the response of dielectric constant to seepage is fast and it is easily recognized even at the end measurement point. Considering these features, it is concluded that it could be possible to cope with the leakage detection quickly and efficiently if the dielectric constant is measured at the downstream slope of a dam.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2022.11a
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• pp.29-30
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• 2022

The unit-water content has a very significant effect on the durability of the construction structure and the quality of concrete. Although there are various methods for measuring the unit-water content, there are problems of time required for measurement, precision, and reproducibility. Recently, there is an FDR sensor capable of measuring moisture content in real time through an apparent dielectric constant change of electromagnetic waves. In addition, various artificial intelligence techniques that can non-linearly supplement the accuracy of FDR sensors are being studied. In this study, the accuracy of unit-water content measurement was compared and evaluated using machine learning and deep learning techniques after normalizing the data secured in concrete using frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensors used to measure soil moisture at home and abroad. The result of comparing the accuracy of machine learning and deep learning is judged to be excellent in the accuracy of deep learning, which can well express the nonlinear relationship between FDR sensor data and concrete unit-water content.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.229-235
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• 2007

관개나 수분수지 규명을 위한 기본적인 자료는 토양수분 함량이다. 그러나, 포장상태에서의 토양수분 함량은 직접 측정하는 것이 쉽지 않기 때문에 많은 경우 건조기를 이용한 중량수분 함량측정 방법을 이용하거나 토양수분 포텐셜 측정용인 텐시오미터를 이용한 토양수분의 에너지 특성을 관개에 활용하는 것이 현실이었다. 중량수분 함량은 시료를 채취해서 건조하기 때문에 시료채취 당시의 토양수분 함량을 아는 것이 어렵고, 토양수분 포텐셜은 에너지를 측정하는 것이기 때문에 이 역시 토양의 수분함량을 얻는 것이 불가능 하다. 따라서, 최근에 이런 측정상의 어려움을 극복하기 위해 여러 나라에서 포장에서의 토양수분 함량을 직접 측정하는 다양한 센서를 개발하고 있고 있다. 그 중 몇 가지는 현재 우리나라에 공급되고 있는데, 가격 등의 문제로 별로 알려져 있지는 않다. 센서는 현장에서 수분함량을 파악할 수 있는 장점이 있기 때문에 관개에 직접 적용이 가능하며 자동화시설이나 수분수지 모형 산정에도 활용할 수 있다. 본 시험은 우리나라에 소개되어 있는 몇 가지의 토양수분 측정용 센서를 현장에서 코어를 이용해 측정한 용적수분 함량과 비교하여 센서의 정확도나 이용 가능성을 검정하고자 하였다. 코어를 이용해 실측한 토양 용적수분 함량과 비교하고자 7종의 센서를 선택해 실험에 이용하였다. 가격이 비싼 것으로 알려진 TDR 형태의 센서가 2종이었으며, 나머지 5종은 FDR 형태의 센서였다. TDR 센서는 Soilmoisture사에서 제작한 MiniTrase와 Imko 사의 Trime이고, FDR은 Sentek사에서 개발한 EasyAG, EnviroSCAN과 Delta-T사에서 제작한 PR-1과 WET-2 및 Decagon사에서 제작한 $ECH_2O$ 센서였다. 실헙방법은 본량사양토인 포장에서 건조한 상태인 시험구와 물이 포화된 시험구를 만들어 놓고, 그곳에서 센서 종류별로, 측정 깊이별로 토양의 용적수분 함량을 측정하고, 센서로 측정한 위치 바로 옆에서 코어를 이용해 토양시료를 채취하고 이를 건조기에 건조해 용적수분 함량을 측정하였다. 비교결과 TDR인 MiniTrase가 결정계수$(r^2)$가 0.964이고 표준오차(SE)가 0.01로 좋은 결과를 보여줬고 WET-2가 $r^2$와 SE가 0.932와 0.013이였으며 EasyAG는 0.877과 0.0211, EnviroSCAN은 0.803과 0.0259의 값을 보였다. 일반적으로 토양수분 함량 측정오차가 1% 미만인 센서가 정확한 수분함량 해석을 유도할 것이지만 위의 센서 중 MiniTrase를 비롯한 4개의 센서 정도가 토양의 수분 함량을 측정하는데 유용할 것이라는 결론을 얻었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2021.11a
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• pp.70-71
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• 2021

The unit quantity that affects the workability, shrinkage cracking, and durability of concrete is an important factor. Methods for measuring the unit quantity include a high frequency heating method, a capacitance method, a unit volume mass method, and a simple method. However, these methods have the disadvantage of poor measurement method, time required, and precision. To solve this problem, a relatively simple and fast measurement method was adopted to compensate for the shortcomings through a Frequency Domain Reflection (FDR) sensor, and the unit quantity was used. In addition, the measurement data was analyzed by deep learning to evaluate the unit quantity of concrete.