NONINVASIVE NMR SYSTEM TO PROFILE NEAR-SURFACE SOIL WATER CONTENT

One Resonance Sensors, LLC (ORS) proposes to develop an innovative, noninvasive NMR soil water content profiler able to determine both free and bound water content to a depth of 2 m, with 10 cm vertical resolution, in a wheeled system transportable and usable by a single operator. In the Phase I base period, a detailed simulation engine will be developed and used to model a range of design alternatives, and thus to quantify performance and operational tradeoffs; lab measurements will confirm profiling ability. ORS, in consultation with the customer, will down-select the most promising system configuration and perform a detailed design in the Phase I option period. This will set the basis for Phase II fabrication, field testing, and iterated improvements of a prototype system. ORS staff will rely on their prior experience with both borehole and noninvasive soil NMR systems, as well as experience, acquired at previous firms, with noninvasive systems for landmine detection using the related technology of nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) that faced similar performance requirements and operational constraints.