• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.260-268
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• 2008

Optical diffuse reflectance sensing has potential for rapid and reliable on-site estimation of soil properties. For good results, proper calibration to measured soil properties is required. One issue is whether it is necessary to develop calibrations using samples from the specific area or areas (e.g., field, soil series) in which the sensor will be applied, or whether a general "factory" calibration is sufficient. A further question is if specific calibration is required, how many sample points are needed. In this study, these issues were addressed using data from 42 paddy fields representing 14 distinct soil series accounting for 74% of the total Korean paddy field area. Partial least squares (PLS) regression was used to develop calibrations between soil properties and reflectance spectra. Model evaluation was based on coefficient of determination ($R^2$) root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP), and RPD, the ratio of standard deviation to RMSEP. When sample data from a soil series were included in the calibration stage (full information calibration), RPD values of prediction models were increased by 0.03 to 3.32, compared with results from calibration models not including data from the test soil series (calibration without site-specific information). Higher $R^2$ values were also obtained in most cases. Including some samples from the test soil series (hybrid calibration) generally increased RPD rapidly up to a certain number of sample points. A large portion of the potential improvement could be obtained by adding about 8 to 22 points, depending on the soil properties to be estimated, where the numbers were 10 to 18 for pH, 18-22 for EC, and 8 to 22 for total C. These results provide guidance on sampling and calibration requirements for NIR soil property estimation.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2013

Pressure transducers are increasingly used within soil mass or at soil-structure interface for appraisal of stresses acting at point of installation. Calibration of pressure transducers provides a unique relationship between applied pressure and voltage or strain sensed by transducer during various loading conditions and is crucial for proper interpretation of results obtained from pressure transducers. In the present study an in-house calibration device is used to calibrate pressure transducers and the study is divided into two parts: 1) demonstration of developed calibration device for fluid and in-soil calibration of pressure transducers; 2) effect of soil layer thickness on the earth pressure cell (EPC) output. Results obtained from the present study revealed successful performance of the developed calibration device, and significant effect of sand layer thickness on the calibration results. The optimum sand layer thickness is obtained as 1.5 times the diameter of EPC.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.331-336
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• 2011

Capacitance soil moisture sensor is extensively used by soil research and irrigation management with its convenience and accuracy. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the acceptability of capacitance soil moisture sensor, named EnviroSCAN made by Sentek Ltd., in Jeju Island where volcanic ash soils are widely distributed, and to calibrate it to various soils with different amount of soil organic matter. For sensor calibration equation of volcanic ash soils, a logarithm function is better than a typical power function of non-volcanic ash soils. So there are possibilities of under evaluated in soil water contents in very wet and very dry conditions by using typical power function with volcanic ash soil areas. We suggested practical coefficients of typical calibration equation for using capacitance sensor in volcanic ash soils, also suggested equations for estimation of them with soil organic matter contents. The measurement of soil water content with a capacitance sensor can be affected by some soil characteristics such as porosity, soil organic matter content, EC, etc. So those factors should be controlled for improving the accuracy of measurement.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.1278-1284
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• 2008

This study carried out bender element tests in a calibration chamber in order to estimate the characteristics of soil specimen prepared in a calibration chamber. Basically, the purpose of bender element test is to measure the shear wave velocity. Bender element test cannot only confirm the status of soil specimen deposited in a chamber, but also estimate the consolidation process indirectly. In order to carry out bender element test in a calibration chamber, a pair of bender elements was installed inside the chamber, using the 'ㄷ' shaped frame. For the sandy soils having various relative densities in various stress conditions, the maximum shear modulus was estimated. From the comparison with bender element test results in a triaxial testing device, testing device and procedure was validated.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.401-408
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• 2022

As research on a controlled environment system based on crop growth environment sensing for sustainable production of horticultural crops and its industrial use has been important, research on how to properly utilize soil moisture sensors for outdoor cultivation is being actively conducted. This experiment was conducted to suggest the proper method of utilizing the TEROS 12, an FDR (frequency domain reflectometry) sensor, which is frequently used in industry and research fields, for each orchard soil in three regions in Korea. We collected soils from each orchard where fruit trees were grown, investigated the soil characteristics and soil water retention curve, and compared TEROS 12 sensor calibration equations to correlate the sensor output to the corresponding soil volumetric water content through linear and cubic regressions for each soil sample. The estimated value from the calibration equation provided by the manufacturer was also compared. The soil collected from all three orchards showed different soil characteristics and volumetric water content values by each soil water retention level across the soil samples. In addition, the cubic calibration equation for TEROS 12 sensor showed the highest coefficient of determination higher than 0.95, and the lowest RMSE for all soil samples. When estimating volumetric water contents from TEROS 12 sensor output using the calibration equation provided by the manufacturer, their calculated volumetric water contents were lower than the actual volumetric water contents, with the difference up to 0.09-0.17 m³·m^-3 depending on the soil samples, indicating an appropriate calibration for each soil should be preceded before FDR sensor utilization. Also, there was a difference in the range of soil volumetric water content corresponding to the soil water retention levels across the soil samples, suggesting that the soil water retention information should be required to properly interpret the volumetric water content value of the soil. Moreover, soil with a high content of sand had a relatively narrow range of volumetric water contents for irrigation, thus reducing the accuracy of an FDR sensor measurement. In conclusion, analyzing soil water retention characteristics of the target soil and the soil-specific calibration would be necessary to properly quantify the soil water status and determine their adequate irrigation point using an FDR sensor.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.03a
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• pp.673-678
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• 2002

Laboratory calibration chamber tests for cone penetrometers, pressuremeters and dilatometers in cohesionless soil specimens have been conducted by numerous researchers. However, there have been only few applications to compacted or preconsolidated cohesive soils. Therefore, for the first time, Calibration Chamber System was developed in Korea University. This can be attributed to the extremely time consuming and laborious process involved in the preparation of large cohesive soil specimens in addition to other complexities involving instrumentation for pore pressure monitoring and the need for maintaing saturation by back pressure. Chamber System with similar principle as LSU Chamber System was made of more strengthen and complementary form by increasing system diameter(1.2m), carrying out 1st and 2nd consolidation process in one system for smooth and safe work, accurate Data Aquisition.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2013

Water content of subgrade soil in water supply systems has a large effect on performance. Many researchers lately make use of time-domain reflectometry (TDR) probes to measure the soil water content of subgrade soil from monitoring. The laboratory calibration test of TDR probe should be performed with soil field, because TDR probe can cause an error by type, gradation, density, and temperature of soil. This study shows the laboratory calibration test using TDR CS616, TDR-P3, TDR-T3. The calibration equations of TDR were then proposed. It was confirmed from the study that the data of TDR probe monitored in field could be used to estimate the freezing, unfrozen water content, and matric suction of soil.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.243-253
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to simulate the reduction effect of soil loss in the Yongdam reservoir watershed using SWAT model. To evaluate accuracy for flow and sediment yield of SWAT model, calibration was performed for the period from Jan. 2002 to Dec. 2003, and the verification for Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2005. The calibration and the verification were carried out using data observed at the Cheoncheon gaging station. The $R^2$ and EI values in terms of a flow were 0.8 and 0.78 respectively for calibration, whereas they for verification were 0.88 and 0.86 respectively. In terms of a sediment yield, they were 0.7 and 0.48 respectively for calibration, whereas for verification were 0.64 and 0.54 respectively. As a results from model simulation, annual mean soil loss rates in terms of forest, paddy and upland were 0.02 ton/ha/yr, 0.15 ton/ha/yr and 7.58 ton/ha/yr, respectively. The results show that the land use type of a upland has more significant impact on a total soil loss as well as a sediment yield than other types of land use. The sediment delivery ratio was determined to be about 0.35. In this study 2 land cover change scenarios for upland area were considered. These scenarios were used an input to SWAT model in order to evaluate their impact on soil loss and sediment delivery. The results show that a reduction of the upland area would reduce the soil loss and sediment yield.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.147-154
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• 2005

This study deals with the calibration of low-frequency water content reflectometer for measuring the volumetric water content of soils in landfill final cover layer, and the validity of calibrations was evaluated by electrical conductivity and index properties of the soils. Linear calibrations concerning volumetric water content to WCR period provided good agreement with the data. Analysis of the calibration data indicates that the slope of the calibration decreases as the electrical conductivity of the soil increases. Lower slopes correspond to soils with greater clay content, organic content, liquid limit, and plasticity index, which typically have higher electrical conductivity. It could be well explained that WCR can operate in a lower frequency range.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.50-54
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• 2008

NIR spectroscopy is newly developed tools determining the soil properties. Phosphorus in soil is one of the most difficult and time consuming elements to assess for plant needs. The calibration coefficient(R) of NIR method for total phosphorus by $HClO_4$ and $Na_2CO_3$ P was 0.91 and 0.88, and available phosphorus by Lancaster and Bray 1. extractant was 0.88 and 0.82. According to Williams guidelines for the calibration coefficient, NIR method could also be used for estimating total and available phosphorus if one performed optimal calibration for predicting soil properties. Applicability of NIR spectra, if improved accuracy, may allow the use of soil testing.