Imagine a sensor that can 'see' how much water is hidden deep in the ground or under a layer of snow without ever touching the soil. It does this by counting tiny particles from space that crash into the earth and react with water. By using smart AI and new light-sensing chips, this complex science is now packed into a small, affordable device.
Traditional soil and snow water monitoring is often expensive, requires direct contact with the ground, or lacks the scale needed for efficient management. This leads to wasted water in farming and unexpected losses in urban water networks.
A compact, low-cost CRNS probe using Silicon Photomultipliers and AI algorithms, supported by two cloud platforms: Fin4Crop and Fin4Leaks.
If you are a commercial farm operator dealing with inefficient irrigation and high water costs — this project developed the Fin4Crop portal and CRNS probes that tell you exactly when and how much to irrigate for healthier harvests.
If you are a municipal water provider dealing with hidden leaks in urban aqueducts — this project developed the Fin4Leaks platform and compact probes that localize water losses in depth without needing to dig up the ground.
If you are a hydroelectric power plant operator dealing with uncertain spring water availability — this project developed a sensing probe that estimates the snow water equivalent to improve power production forecasting.
Yes, the project focused on reducing production costs and complexity to make the technology available for everyone at a competitive price.
Based on available project data, the integration of Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM) was specifically implemented to make the instruments easier to produce on a large scale.
Based on available project data, there is no specific mention of licensing terms or patents, though the technology is developed by FINAPP SRL.
The probes connect to an AI-based IoT cloud that provides real-time data through user interfaces and dedicated portals like Fin4Crop and Fin4Leaks.
The project runs from August 2023 to July 2025, with the first generation of SiPM probes already successfully tested in the field during the second year.
The project is led by a single Italian SME, FINAPP SRL, with a 100% industry ratio. This lean structure suggests a fast-track transition from R&D to commercialization, focusing on product engineering and market launch rather than academic research.
Contact FINAPP SRL in Italy
Contact us to explore integration of CRNS sensing into your water management strategy.
