Fourth International Symposium On Soil Water Measurement Using
Capacitance, Impedance and Time Domain Transmission(TDT)
Organized by:
PALTIN International Inc., in cooperation with the
Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
July 16 - 18, 2014
International Organizing Committee
and
the Editorial Committee for Transactions of the 4th Symposium – 2014:
Dr. Ioan Caton Paltineanu - President, Paltin International Inc., Laurel, Maryland, USA,
ioan@paltin.com
Dr. Chandra A. Madramootoo - Professor and Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue QC, Canada,
chandra.madramootoo@mcgill.ca
Dr. James E. Ayars – Research Agricultural Engineer, Water Management Research Laboratory,
USDA-ARS, Parlier, California, USA, James.Ayars@ARS.USDA.GOV
Dr. Vaclav Kuraz - Associate Professor, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Irrigation,
Drainage and Landscape, Czech Technical University, Prague, Czech Republic,
kuraz@fsv.cvut.cz
Dr. Juan Vera Munoz – Scientist, Spanish Council Research, CEBAS - CSIC, Department of
Irrigation, Campus Universitario Espinando, Murcia, Spain, jvera@cebas.csic.es
Dr. Ashok K. Alva - Research Leader, Vegetable and Forage Crop Research Unit, Prosser, WA,
USA, Ashok.Alva.ARS@USDA.GOV
Dr. Svatopluk Matula - Professor, Head of Department of Water Resources, Faculty of
Agrobiology Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech
Republic, Matula@af.czu.cz
Dr. Jeffrey E. Campbell - Senior Vice President, Sensor Development, UgMO Technologies,
King of Prussia, PA, USA, jcampbell@ugmo.com
Dr. Ole Wendroth - Professor of Soil Physics, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, College of
Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA, owendroth@uky.edu
Dr. Shiv Prasher - James McGill Professor and Chair, Department of Bioresource Engineering,
McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Anne de Bellevue QC, Canada, shiv.prasher@mcgill.ca
Mr. Eduardo Ganem Cuenca - McGill University, Project Manager, Faculty of Agricultural
Engineering, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada, eduardo.ganemcuenca@mcgill.ca
Ms. Helen Fyles - Research Associate, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-Bellevue, Canada,
helen.fyles@mcgill.ca
Ali Madani - Professor (retired), Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Nova Scotia, Canada,
amadani49@gmail.com
Local Organizing Committee:
Dr. Chandra A. Madramootoo (co-Chair) - James McGill Professor and Dean, Faculty of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Sainte-Annede-Bellevue Quebec, Canada, chandra.madramootoo@mcgill.ca
Mr. Eduardo Ganem Cuenca (co-Chair) - Project Manager, McGill University, Faculty of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada,
eduardo.ganemcuenca@mcgill.ca
Dr. Viacheslav Adamchuk - Associate Professor, Department of Bioresource Engineering,
Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-deBellevue, Quebec, Canada, viacheslav.adamchuk@mcgill.ca
Mr. Peter Enright - Director, Farm Management and Technology Program, McGill University,
Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada,
peter.enright@mcgill.ca
SYMPOSIUM - 2014
PALTIN International Inc., an independent research and technology transfer company dealing
with real-time water monitoring systems for irrigation, drainage, hydrology and environmental
impact studies, is organizing the Fourth International Symposium on Soil Water Measurement
using Capacitance, Impedance and TDT, in cooperation with the Faculty of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences, McGill University, to be held in Montreal, Canada, July 16 to July 18,
2014.
Research, academia, independent consultants, current and future graduate students,
manufacturers, provincial and federal governments, and distributors are cordially invited to
support and participate for the success of this symposium.
RATIONALE:
Recent extreme and extensive climatic events (drought, flood) over the most productive,
traditionally rain fed lands of the world, have shown that, regardless of their disputed origin, the
in-situ adaptation of agricultural practices to the current and future climatic realities must be
made in accordance with the best soil, water, plant, and atmospheric monitoring technologies.
Real-time measurement of the soil water profile into the crop root zone remains the least known
parameter into the integral water balance calculations at local, regional, continental and global
scales, with direct implications on the wise use of water and soil resources for adequate and
efficient food and fiber production, as well as for responsible environmental protection measures.
Current model simulations (rainfall, ET, run-off, etc.) estimating soil water reserves show a
general picture, which must be verified and correlated to the real-time in-situ soil water profile
measurement in order to offer accurate data for local agricultural management decisions. The
same is true for the current and future remote sensing technologies of soil water profile
measurement at different space/time scales.
Increased challenges for using good quality water are forcing irrigated agricultural production of
good quality food and fiber, as well as landscape irrigation (residential, commercial, parks and
sport fields) to use alternative lower quality water sources (reclaimed water, etc..) with direct
implications on soils, crops, atmosphere, surface and ground water resources protection. A new
integrated approach of real-time monitoring of water quantity and quality (EC, pH, DO and
temperature) from the irrigation source, to soil water profile, bellow root zone leaching, in the
ground water wells, and in the runoff to surface water resources, is imperative.
Due to new developments in research and technology, as well as future opportunities in
developing multi-parameter sensors (soil water, temperature and EC), it is necessary to reevaluate the real-time capacitance, impedance and TDT based sensors frequency variation with
soil water, soil temperature and soil electrical conductivity, at the same location of measurement.
We welcome increased public and independent research and technology efforts to standardize the
laboratory calibration methods and techniques of dielectric constant based soil moisture sensors,
along with manufacturers bench testing and authorized soil moisture sensors testing
organizations, as well as individual efforts for detailed field calibration methods under different
types of soils.
Specialized manufacturers should be ready to supply new robust, accurate real-time multiparameter soil profile monitoring (1- 2m depth) probes to equip the current and future agrometeorological stations. These multi parameter sensors could perform as independent probes, or
could be an integral part of the international network for global evaluation of the “active root
zone-plant community-atmosphere interface” related to water, energy and nutrient dynamics at
global and regional scales, using satellite telemetry and fast internet data accessibility.
Global increased demand for irrigation water and fertilizer consumption in the urban
development’s (private homes, commercial landscapes, parks, and sport fields) determine the
rapid pace of introduction of reliable, soil specific calibrated, soil moisture/temperature/EC
sensors, to be connected to the current time based irrigation controllers, in order to increase
water and fertilizer application efficiencies, as well as reducing pollution of soil, and excess
nutrients into underground and surface waters.
Extreme flooding events (by oceans, lakes and rivers) require technological solutions for realtime monitoring of water dynamics inside constructed dams, dikes, embankments and efficient
alarm systems in order to prevent large losses of human and animal life, infrastructure and
properties.
Robust, low power consumption, resistant under extreme environmental conditions, future data
acquisition and telemetry systems (radio, satellite) must perform flawlessly, and at the same time
be capable of serving a multitude of sensors, and software packages. Frequent updating of
software, as is customarily - at the expense of customers, should be avoided.
Independent consultants role for in site specific calibration of probes and their direct work with
the end users (of any educational background and experience) for proper installation and use of
capacitance, impedance and TDT probes and related data acquisition, telemetry, software
packages, is still of utmost importance. Manufacturers should not consider the use of their
technologies as part of the general marketing (over the counter) procedure.
SYMPOSIUM AGENDA
1) Paper presentations (5 to 10 pages) to be reviewed by members of the organizing committee
and a panel of voluntary reviewers, and to be published in the Proceedings of the 4th
International Symposium - 2014;
2) Poster presentation. Reviewed Abstracts (one page) will be published in the Proceedings of
the 4th International Symposium - 2014;
3) Technical exhibition for manufacturers to demonstrate their sensors, probes, data acquisition,
telemetry systems, and software packages;
4) Field visit to demonstrate applications of capacitance, impedance and TDT probes and realtime monitoring systems in Montreal.
CONTACT:
Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Ioan Caton Paltineanu at ioan@paltin.com (cc to
Eduardo Ganem Cuenca at eduardo.ganemcuenca@mcgill.ca)
BROCHURE:
A brochure containing details on the 4th International Symposium - 2014 will be available at
www.paltin.com and www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/programs/cpd
CORPORATE SPONSORS:
International, national and regional corporations and non-government institutions are cordially
invited to sponsor the 4th Symposium – 2014 Transactions, contributing towards improving and
preserving our planet’s global water and soil resources.
MAIN TOPICS FOR PAPERS, POSTERS AND DISCUSSIONS:
Presentations of original research, technical and synthesis papers (oral, multimedia and posters)
regarding: State of the Art Technology, and Field Scale Applications, including Future
Directions, will cover the following topics:
1) STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY:
1.1. Theory: dielectric properties of porous media; effects of operating frequency
sensors performance; relationship between water content, temperature, salinity and
reading frequencies; permittivity vs. water content, etc.;
1.2. New developments: multi parameter sensors, ground wireless transmission of data,
logging facilities, telemetry systems, software, etc.;
1.3. Calibration: Methodology (laboratory and field); Mineralogy; Shrinking and
Swelling media; High organic content media; Saline conditions; Layered soils; Zone of
influence (axial and radial); statistics for intrinsic soil characteristics etc.. New proposals
for standardization of laboratory and field calibration methods and techniques of
dielectric constant based soil water/EC/temperature sensors are welcome.
1.4. Development of new real-time soil water/temperature/EC profile dynamics
monitoring data based computer models for large areas;
1.5. Spatial monitoring and remote monitoring:
1.5.1. Soil water content (surface and profile) monitoring over large
research/application areas (ground truth);
1.5.2. Telemetry of data: Radio frequencies, cellular phones, aircraft, satellites;
1.6. Global, continental, regional distribution of capacitance, impedance and TDT
probes, monitoring and telemetry systems over large areas for research, practical
applications and educational programs (High Schools, Colleges, Public at large);
1.7. Future directions: Global network for real-time soil water profile dynamics vs.
remote sensing monitoring; etc.
II) APPLICATIONS CASE STUDIES:
2.1. Research oriented studies over large areas using GPS and GIS data (climate
change, drought, flood, agriculture, forestry, hydrology, and environmental impact
studies). Integrated real-time monitoring studies of water quantity and quality from
irrigation water source to soil water/EC/temperature profile, underground leaching,
groundwater observation wells, run-off to surface water resources;
2.2. Aircraft and orbital platforms remote sensing calibration data versus "ground
truth" real-time soil moisture/temperature/EC profile dynamics monitoring and telemetry
systems data, using GPS and GIS data;
2.3. Irrigation and drainage in agricultural settings such as field and vegetable crops,
fruit trees, vineyards;
2.4. Real-time soil moisture based irrigation controllers for private homes, sports
fields (soccer, football, baseball, golf courses, etc.), public parks, and commercial
landscape architectural projects;
2.5. Land reclamation, rural development, civil engineering, construction (dams,
dikes, embankments, highways, bridges, airports, concrete structures) and real-time
monitoring, mining works;
2.6. Waste disposal sites for nuclear and non-nuclear materials;
2.7. Landmine location signature, environmental soil water, atmosphere
characterization for better landmine (or improvised devices) detection and neutralization.
2.8. Future directions.
REGISTRATION and SUBMISSION of proposals for oral presentations; posters;
technical exhibit products; laboratory and field demonstrations
1)Pre-registration (expression of interest/letter of intent):
Participant’s name and complete address, Title of Paper, Poster, Co-Authors names and
addresses. Participation of companies with a booth at the Technical Exhibition, or just individual
participation should be specified.
Send email to Dr. Ioan Caton Paltineanu at ioan@paltin.com (cc to Eduardo Ganem Cuenca, at
eduardo.ganemcuenca@mcgill.ca) before August 1, 2013.
2) Paper and poster presentations one page abstract in English or French: (authors,
addresses, and text maximum one page 8.5" X 11", MS Word, double spaced, 1" margin
top/base, 1" margin left/right, use 12 point font Times New Roman type for Title, all other text
use 10 point font Times New Roman type. A second one page abstract in English will be
provided by participants willing to present their papers and posters in French. Send all abstracts
to Dr. Ioan C. Paltineanu at ioan@paltin.com (cc to Eduardo Ganem Cuenca, at
eduardo.ganemcuenca@mcgill.ca) before October 1, 2013.
3) Organizing Committee response with acceptance of the Abstracts for submission as: Full
Length Papers; or Posters: (before December 15, 2013)
4) Submission of proposals for full text papers in English, or French, for peer review
(maximum 10 pages including title, authors, addresses, introduction, methods and materials,
results, discussions, recommendations, conclusions, tables and figures and references, MS Word,
double spaced). Full text papers in French will include titles, abstract, conclusions and
recommendations, and subtitles in English. Send all proposals to Dr. Ioan C. Paltineanu at
ioan@paltin.com (cc to Eduardo Ganem Cuenca, at eduardo.ganemcuenca@mcgill.ca)
No full paper proposal (max. 10 page) for oral presentation, or abstract proposal (one page) for
poster presentation, will enter the peer review process without first having received the fee
payment for participation in the 4th International Symposium – 2014.
5) Fee Payment: Registration and fees can be paid online (secure-web) at: website to follow.
6) Return of peer review observations of full paper proposals or abstract of poster
proposals to the senior authors: three months after receiving the proposal and fee payment.
7) Transactions of the 4th International Symposium – 2014: The Final draft of the papers,
ready for publication, will be sent back to Dr. Ioan Caton Paltineanu, at ioan@paltin.com (cc to
Eduardo Ganem Cuenca, at eduardo.ganemcuenca@mcgill.ca) before April 30, 2014.
PALTIN International Inc., the publisher, has already retained an ISBN Number for the
publication of “Transactions of the 4th International Symposium – 2014”
The ISBN Numbers for the previous Symposiums have been advertised on PALTIN
International Inc. website (www.paltin.com at NEWS and PRODUCTS), and can be found at
(books.google.com › Science › General) under ISBN Numbers as follows:
Transactions of Symposium - 2010: ISBN 0982796927, 9780982796924
Transactions of Symposium – 2007: ISBN 0982796919, 9780982796917
Transactions of Symposium – 2002: ISBN 0982796900, 9780982796900
8) All registered participants will receive at the opening of Symposium: a hard copy of
Transactions of the 4th International Symposium – 2014 containing the Invited Keynote Speaker
lecture and the Invited Speaker from Canada lecture, as well as all full length peer reviewed
papers (10 pages/each) and peer reviewed one page abstract for poster presentations; a list with
International and Local Organization Committee Members, as well as the Members of the
Editorial Board. Participants will receive a CD ROM with all full length peer reviewed papers
and abstracts of the poster presentations.
9) At the recommendation of the Organizing Committee, Sponsors are welcome to provide
additional funds for editing and publishing a book on "Capacitance, Impedance and Time
Domain Transmission probes for real-time soil water/EC/temperature/ profile monitoring:
Theory and Practical Applications"
10) Visit to McGill University’s Macdonald Campus which houses the Faculty of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, a field visit to demonstrate practical sensor applications, will be
included in the program.
SPONSORS AND COLLABORATORS:
National and international non-governmental societies, provincial and federal agencies,
universities, private companies and foundations interested in promoting non nuclear real-time
soil water/EC/temperature measurement probes, monitoring and telemetry systems based on
Capacitance, Impedance and Time Domain Transmission, are welcomed to offer sponsorship and
will be recognized in the Symposium's Transactions.
TRAVEL AND ACCOMODATIONS:
Participants are required to make their own travel and hotel accommodations.
A block of rooms will be made available at a discounted rate at the Holiday Inn Mid-Town in
downtown Montreal (registration site to follow).
Participants are responsible for ensuring they have the necessary travel document to enter
into Canada. For information, please consult the Government of Canada’s website at:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/
PROGRAM (tentative)
DAY 1, Wednesday, July 16, 2014,
(downtown Montreal)
The “4th International Symposium on Soil Water Measurement using Capacitance,
Impedance and TDT” will kick off on July 16, meeting jointly with the American Society of
Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual Meeting, in Montreal, Canada.
08:30-09:00
Registration
Joint Meeting of the International and Local Organizing Committees at [venue to be
announced in August 2013]
09:00 - 09:15
Official opening of Symposium
Introductory remarks: Dr. Ioan Caton Paltineanu (President PALTIN Int. Inc., USA,
Chairman of the International Organizing Committee)
Welcome address: Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee
09:15 - 10:00
Invited Keynote Speaker: Dr. Chandra Madramootoo, James McGill, Professor and Dean,
Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Canada, Lecture:
10:00 - 10:15 Coffee Break
10:15 - 12:00 STATE of THE ART TECHNOLOGY (Moderators:…..)
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch
13:00 - 14:00 STATE of THE ART TECHNOLOGY (Moderators:…..)
14:00 - 16:00 APPLICATIONS CASE STUDIES (Moderators:…..)
McGill University's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will host the
participants to the 4th International Symposium – 2014, at the Macdonald Campus, on July 17
and 18, 2014. McGill University’s shuttle buses will be available from downtown Montreal to
the Macdonald Campus and back.
DAY 2, Thursday, July 17, 2014,
Macdonald Campus, McGill University, Centennial Centre
08:30 – 10:00 POSTER SESSION (Moderators:…..)
10:00 – 10:15 Coffee break
10:15 – 12:00 APPLICATIONS & CASE STUDIES (Moderators:…..)
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:00 2. APPLICATIONS CASE STUDIES (Moderators:…..)
14:00 – 16:00 3. NEW DEVELOPMENTS and FUTURE DIRECTIONS (Moderators:…..)
17:00 - B.B.Q. Networking Dinner, Macdonald Campus
DAY 3, Friday, July 18, 2014
Macdonald Campus, McGill University, Campus Farm
09:00 – 12:00 TECHNICAL EXHIBIT and FIELD WATER MANAGEMENT HANDSON WORKSHOP
Campus field demonstrations by international and Canadian manufacturers of soil
water/EC/temp. probes, acquisition and telemetry systems, software, etc. (Moderators:…..)
12:00 – 14:00 Lunch and wrap-up
Symposium – 2014 Program subject to change without notice
FOURTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON SOIL WATER MEASUREMENT
USING CAPACITANCE, IMPEDANCE AND TIME DOMAIN TRANSMISSION
ORGANIZED BY PALTIN INTERNATIONAL INC. IN COLLABORATION WITH MCGILL UNIVERSITY
MONTREAL, CANADA | JULY 16-18, 2014
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Salutation
 Mrs.
 Mr.
 Ms.
First Name:
Last Name:
Organization:
Work Title:
 Dr.
Mailing Address:
City:
State/Province:
ZIP/Postal Code:
Tel:
Country:
Email:
Presentation Title:
Food allergies:
EVENT REGISTRATION
Please select one from the following (one registration per form):

 General Registration



Before 31 Dec 2013
450 CAD
After 31 Dec 2013
480 CAD
ASABE Member (only if attending the 2014 ASABE Annual Meeting, Montreal)
250 CAD
280 CAD
Student (A valid student ID card is required)
130 CAD
160 CAD
Exhibitor (includes 1 symposium entrance pass plus one exhibit table)
920 CAD
950 CAD
All registration types include: one (1) pass to the Symposium activities, one (1) printed copy of the 2014 Transactions, coffee
breaks, lunch, and transportation for the field visit and from the hotel to the Macdonald Campus.
PAYMENT INFORMATION
Online registration and payment is available (website for online registration to follow)
If you do not wish to register and pay online, please complete the portion below
 Visa  MasterCard  American Express  Cheque (payable to McGill University, Memo: Symposium - 2014)
Credit Card Number:
Name on Credit Card:
Expiration Date( mm/yy):
CVV:
Authorized Signature:
Please complete and return this form to:
Mr. Eduardo Ganem Cuenca
Macdonald Stewart Building, Room MS2-083
Macdonald Campus of McGill University
21111 Lakeshore Road
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Québec H9X 3V9
CANADA
Or return completed form by fax to 1-(514) 398-7766