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Clem Wehner writes
Some idea of when the use of Neutron Probes will be
banned may appear in reports from the recent
World Congress of Soil Science in Montpellier, France,
20 to 26 August.
It isn't so much the concern about prolonged human
exposure to fast neutrons that is causing a decrease
in use of the neutron probe technique for measuring
soil moisture. Other factors are:
1) Neutron probe equipment is more expensive
to buy, operate and maintain than newer,
alternative systems for measuring moisture
in soils and other media.
2) Calibration is required for each kind of
soil studied with neutron probes.
3) Neutron probe operators and equipment,
including transport, have to be licensed.
An alternative method for measuring soil moisture,
and one of the easiest to use with satisfactory
accuracy is a TDR system such as the one offered
by ESI Environmental Sensors Inc.
http://www.esica.com
My opinion is biased by a Market Assessment of
Reasearch and Technology survey (1992)I did that
preceeded final development of the TDR system
before it was commercialized by ESI (1994).
Clem Wehner C. Wehner & Associates
Marketing Consultants International
Victoria, BC, Canada V9A 3K2
Ph/Fx: 250-383-1959
E-Mail: cww@pacificcoast.net
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Posted on Sowacs were:
> Could anyone clarify for me any specific legislation
current or pending
> which will ban the use of Neutron Probes in the future.
>
> Alternatively if people consider a ban is likely when
do people think it is likely to occur?
>
>
----------------- 0 -----------
I think they might wait until there's an alternative....
as I'm developing an instrument which could be the
alternative, I would be interested in a time scedule too ;-)
best regards
R. Maag mailto:romaag@meteolabor.ch
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