Feldmonitoring

Feldmonitoring is the systematic collection and analysis of data from a defined field area over time to observe processes, assess conditions, and support management decisions. It encompasses agricultural, environmental, hydrological and geotechnical applications, and may integrate in-situ measurements with remote sensing to provide spatially explicit information.

Core components include sensors, data loggers, and communication networks that collect variables such as soil moisture, temperature, nutrient status, pH, crop canopy reflectance, and weather conditions. Data are stored in centralized databases and processed with analytics tools to detect trends, anomalies, and to drive models for forecasting and optimization. Methods combine ground-based sensing with remote sensing from satellites or unmanned aerial vehicles, offering both high temporal resolution and broader spatial coverage.

Applications include precision agriculture with irrigation and input optimization, crop health monitoring, yield forecasting, and resilience assessments for drought or flood risk. In environmental management, Feldmonitoring supports groundwater monitoring, soil erosion assessment, and habitat condition tracking. In industrial contexts, field monitoring can monitor infrastructure or energy systems in outdoor environments.

Challenges include maintaining data quality and sensor calibration, ensuring reliable power and communication in remote sites, handling large data volumes, and achieving interoperability across devices and platforms. Successful Feldmonitoring programs rely on standardized protocols, robust maintenance plans, and clear data governance.