Hydro-Climatological Observation & Sensing Technology

Innovative instrumentation and campaign-style measurements to quantify the composition and fluxes of water, solutes and sediments as well as weather parameters at different spatial (i.e., plot to watershed) and temporal (event to millennial) scales across Luxembourg.

Building up cutting-edge engineering solutions for a wide range of environmental research applications. This active interface between industry and science transfers research results into market-oriented products, processes and services, and provides specialised companies with an easier access to state-of-the-art research outcomes through the development of models and prototypes.

Developing semi-automated data processing chains for the acquisition and analysis of hyperspectral images from drones and supporting high-quality Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) services.

Implementation and management of nested hydro-climatological observation network across a range of topographic settings, bedrock geologies, soils and land use types to document and report on the recent changes in climatic conditions and water resources in Luxembourg.

Innovative techniques and monitoring strategies are being developed and tested at several experimental sites in Luxembourg to quantify and better understand key processes taking place through several components of the Critical Zone (e.g. soils, rivers, vegetation).

Sampling and providing detailed description of humus and soils and classifying them according to international classification system (World Reference Base).

Spectral profiling from lab to field scale (soil, vegetation, artificial surfaces), airborne small- and large-scale thermal mapping (supporting scientific projects on precision agriculture, vegetation stress, biodiversity and disease detection)

Development and implementation of low energy consumptive technology for environmental and ecological monitoring purposes. Such prototype development and deployment are directly useful for several different research teams of the ERIN department.

Based on hydro-climatological observation network running at a national scale since the 1990s, an Atlas is published annually to document and report on the climatic conditions and water resources across Luxembourg. The Atlas is published together with the Administration de la gestion de l’eau (AGE)and the Administration des services techniques de l'agriculture (ASTA).
 

HOST handles essential datasets that integrate hydrological, meteorological and geomorphic processes from plot to watershed scales across Luxembourg. This LIST environmental database is one of the largest collection of data on hydro-climatological conditions in Luxembourg. The data are robust in scale and scope and are transformed into a harmonised dataset to support researchers in their studies on environmental conditions. LIST researchers and other stakeholders can access the data through a data use request form.

• Meteorological stations for long-term monitoring, measuring wind speed and direction, global radiation, air temperature and relative humidity, precipitation, barometric pressure, soil temperature, moisture and conductivity
• A suite of solar radiation sensors: SOLYS Sun Tracker, PMO6-CC absolute cavity radiometer, Pyrheliometer Type CH1, Kipp & Zonen Pyranometers Type CM1 for global-, diffuse- and direct solar radiation, EKO Spectroradiometer MS-700
• Various current meters to measure runoff in different conditions: mechanical propellers, electromagnetic current meter, acoustic doppler current meter and profilers
• A large set of automatic water samplers for continuous or project-specific sampling purposes
• Multiparameter recorders for continuous measurement of water quality parameters

• VIS/NIR portable Spectrometer ASD Fieldspec III max (350 - 2500 nm)
• VIS/NIR portable Spectrometer Spectral Evolution RS3500 (350 - 2500 nm)
• Hyperspectral thermal imager Telops Hypercam LW (7.8 - 12.0 µm)
• Motion compensating platform for Hypercam airborne operation
• Headwall Photonics Nano hyperspectral VIS/NIR UAV sensor (400 - 1000 nm) with UAV platform (DJI Matrrice 600)
• TeAx Thermal capture Fusion TIR imager for UAV applications
• Licor LAI plant canopy analyser
• Konica Minolta SPAD502+ leaf chlorophyll analysers
• ASD RTS-3ZC integrating sphere for ASD Fieldspec

• HYPROP 2 for measuring soil water potential to create a soil moisture release curve
• KSAT – Automated setup for collecting saturated hydraulic conductivity measurements in the lab
• WP4C – Soil water potential lab instrument
• 15 bar ceramic plate extractor for soil - water retention curve