Using Additional Moderator to Control the Footprint of a COSMOS Rover for Soil Moisture Measurement

Cosmic-Ray Neutron Probes (CRNP) have found application in soil moisture (SM) estimation due to their conveniently large (>100 m) footprints. Here, we explore the possibility of using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) moderator limit field view, and hence, footprint a SM sensor formed 12 CRNP mounted on mobile robotic platform (Thorvald) for better in-field localization variation. Ultra Rapid Adaptable Neutron-Only Simulation neutron scattering simulations are used show that 5 cm additional HDPE (used shield upper surface sides detector) is sufficient (a) reduce detector considerably, (b) approximately double percentage neutrons detected from within m detector, (c) does not affect shape curve convert counts into SM. rover measurements transect crossing between grass concrete additionally suggest (d) changes can be sensed over length scales tens meters or less (roughly an order magnitude smaller than commonly distances), (e) count rate (and hence increase noise) as much might expected given extent moderator. The with was also conduct stubble three weeks test system measuring spatial temporal