News and events archive

Explore news, field campaigns, project meetings, training activities and outreach events from the SoMMet project. Entries are listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent first.

Conference and workshop contributions are listed separately under Presentations at conferences and workshops, while recordings and other training resources are available under Training materials.

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2025

SoMMet project completed

September 2025

The 36-month Joint Research Project SoMMet—Metrology for multi-scale monitoring of soil moisture—officially concluded at the end of September 2025. Its deliverables, publications and other outputs remain openly available.

Explore the project's outputs

Final M36 project meeting in Istanbul

September 2025

The final SoMMet project meeting was hosted by TÜBİTAK UME in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 9 and 10 September 2025. Most consortium members attended in person, while the hybrid format enabled other participants to join remotely. The partners reviewed the project's achievements and coordinated the remaining activities before its completion at the end of September.

Long-term neutron measurements at Marquardt

June 2025

On 18 June 2025, PTB deployed its newly developed NEMUS-UMW Bonner sphere spectrometer at the Marquardt test field site. Designed for autonomous long-term outdoor measurements, NEMUS-UMW independently recorded reference neutron data near one of the site's permanent CRNS stations and transmitted those data regularly to PTB.

ASNR neutron spectrometry campaigns at Bondeno

March and June 2025

SoMMet partner ASNR conducted two outdoor neutron spectrometry campaigns at the Bondeno test field site between March and June 2025. Using the HERMEIS extended-range Bonner sphere spectrometer, the team collected reference neutron data to support the interpretation of cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS) measurements and the validation of neutron-transport simulations.

Hybrid training event on soil moisture metrology

January 2025

The Danish Technological Institute (DTI) hosted a hybrid SoMMet training event on soil moisture metrology across spatial scales. Contributions from several consortium partners covered fundamental physical and metrological principles and different monitoring methods, including cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS).

M27 progress meeting in Taastrup

January 2025

The SoMMet consortium held its Month 27 (M27) progress meeting at the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) in Taastrup, near Copenhagen, Denmark. The partners reviewed progress across the project’s work packages, discussed outstanding tasks and coordinated their plans for the final nine months of the project.

2024

CRNS rover campaign at Apulian Tavoliere

September 2024

During the week beginning 23 September 2024, teams from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) conducted a measurement campaign at the Apulian Tavoliere test field site. UFZ's mobile cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS) rover mapped soil moisture patterns across an area extending beyond the footprint of a single stationary instrument. The rover measurements enabled systematic comparisons with point-scale sensor data and soil-sampling results.

Commercial CRNS instrument installed at Apulian Tavoliere

July 2024

The Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) installed a commercial Hydroinnova CRS1000 cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS) instrument at the Apulian Tavoliere test field site. The instrument had previously been modelled and characterised in PTB's neutron reference fields. The resulting field measurements were used to assess field-scale soil moisture dynamics and compare them with satellite-derived soil moisture products.

SoMMet at Woche der Umwelt 2024 in Berlin

June 2024

SoMMet was presented at Woche der Umwelt (Week of the Environment) in Berlin. The event brought together around 190 exhibitors showcasing innovative approaches to environmental protection, climate change adaptation, sustainability and biodiversity, and attracted approximately 12,000 visitors.

Second joint neutron beamtime at PTB

March 2024

During the week beginning 11 March 2024, SoMMet partners conducted the second part of their joint experimental campaign at the PTB Ion Accelerator Facility (PIAF), following the initial measurements in February. Commercial cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS) instruments were characterised in well-defined, SI-traceable neutron reference fields.

Visit to the Bondeno test field site

February 2024

Following their M18 progress meeting at the University of Bologna, the SoMMet partners visited the Bondeno test field site in northern Italy.

M18 progress meeting in Bologna

February 2024

The SoMMet consortium held its Month 18 (M18) progress meeting at the University of Bologna (UNIBO), Italy.

Neutron beamtime at PTB

February 2024

For the first time, commercial cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS) instruments were characterised in a metrology laboratory using well-defined, SI-traceable neutron reference fields at the PTB Ion Accelerator Facility (PIAF). This established a controlled metrological basis for understanding and comparing their neutron responses.

2023

Online meeting with soil moisture experts

June 2023

The SoMMet consortium held two half-day online sessions with soil scientists, hydrologists, meteorologists and specialists in satellite-derived soil moisture products. Participants discussed the metrological needs associated with soil moisture measurements across different spatial scales, helping to refine the project objectives.

Technical visit to CNR in Apulia

June 2023

A representative of the University of Potsdam (UP DE) visited the outdoor research facilities of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) in Apulia, Italy. The partners exchanged technical knowledge and conducted practical exercises covering soil moisture sensor installation, data processing and interpretation.

Online M9 progress meeting

June 2023

The SoMMet consortium held its Month 9 (M9) progress meeting online in two half-day sessions on 7 and 26 June 2023. The partners reviewed progress during the project's first nine months and planned activities for the following six months.

W-PIE CRNS instrument installed at Apulian Tavoliere

April 2023

On 4 April 2023, the W-PIE (Wedding PIE) cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS) instrument, developed by SoMMet partner Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi), was installed at the Apulian Tavoliere test field site operated by consortium partner Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR).

Online mutual training and stakeholder meeting

February 2023

On 21 February 2023, SoMMet held an online mutual-training event bringing together metrology and soil moisture experts. Around 65 participants, including experts from stakeholder communities outside the consortium, discussed fundamental metrological principles and key challenges in soil moisture measurement and monitoring.

Online meeting on project impact

January 2023

On 12 January 2023, the SoMMet consortium held an online meeting dedicated to Work Package 5 (WP5), "Creating Impact". The partners discussed activities for disseminating and communicating the project’s results, together with plans to maximise their uptake and impact.

Explore SoMMet's impact

2022

Visit to the Marquardt test field site

October 2022

Following the kick-off meeting, the SoMMet partners visited the Marquardt test field site near Potsdam on 13 October 2022. They toured the long-term observatory and participated in practical soil moisture measurements under outdoor conditions.