Installation of the W-PIE neutron spectrometer at Apulian Tavoliere
April 2023
As part of SoMMet's field research, the W-PIE cosmic-ray neutron spectrometer was installed at the Apulian Tavoliere test field site on 4 April 2023. Developed by project partner Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi), the instrument was nicknamed Wedding PIE because of its tiered shape. The test site was operated by consortium partner Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR).
W-PIE stands for Wide Energy Detector for Direct Investigation of Neutron spectrum at Ground level for Precise moIsture Evaluation. The instrument operates as a four-channel spectrometer, with the individual channels sensitive to different regions of the naturally occurring neutron-energy spectrum. By monitoring changes in the neutron signal over time, soil moisture dynamics across a relatively large area around the instrument can be investigated.
The W-PIE spectrometer remained at the Apulian Tavoliere site for several months. The resulting measurements supported comparisons with data from point-scale soil moisture sensors and satellite-derived soil moisture products.
Further information about the W-PIE neutron spectrometer is available in the following scientific publications: