soil moisture sensors for bio filter system

[Dave Price]

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Hello,
	My name is David Price and I work with a company called Campbell Scientific
Australia.  I currently have a customer who is looking for a reliable way to
measure the moisture content in a bio filter system at an abattoir.  The 25m
x 25m x 2m deep pits are currently filled with anything from rice hulls,
oats, sawdust and a few other media. They have no way at present, to monitor
the water content of the bio filter.  I believe that you may have a sensor
that we can use to average this reading.  I don't know what the sensor is
called but from what I have been told this sensor is like a long tape, being
able to measure the water content along its length as an average.

Looking forward to receiving some information

Regards

Dave Price

[Bruce comments:
David
I append a recent reply that should answer your question.
Also have a look at the sowacs feature article on Aquaflex
www.sowacs.com\feature\streats\aquaflex.html

Does any one know of any type of "ribbon-based" intergrating sensor?
I know of another that was under development a few years ago in South
Africa - but haven't heard any more about it.
Bruce]
>
>The Aquaflex Soil Moisture Sensor has been successfully applied to many
>Biofilters in New Zealand, Australia and Europe.
>
>The unique sensing element of the Aquaflex sensor (a 3m long tape that is
>laid in the material to be measured) is easily installed in the Biofilter
>medium and the spatial averaging over the tapes 3m length ensures you get a
>representative reading of the medium (both moisture and temperature readings
>are available).
>
>Various configurations are available depending on your requirements (4 to
>20mA output, frequency output, self contained logging sensors etc).
>
>Feel free to contact me if you require any further information.
>
>
>Best regards
>
>Jim Herbison
>Streat Instruments Ltd
>
>j.herbison@streatsahead.com
>www.streatsahead.com