Advancing in situ Soil Moisture Monitoring and Utilization through Innovation and Community Building
Event
Side Event
Advancing in situ Soil Moisture Monitoring and Utilization through Innovation and Community Building
About Event:
Monday, October 06, 2025 (17.30-19.30) Timing (IST)
This side event aims to bring together the global soil moisture community - including scientists, data providers, technology developers, citizen scientists, agricultural and water managers. In situ soil moisture data are critical not only for advancing scientific knowledge, but also for addressing societal challenges such as sustainable agriculture, water resource management, drought monitoring, climate adaptation, and disaster preparedness. This event will serve as both a networking platform and a medium to foster awareness and engagement with the International Soil Moisture Network (ISMN) . As a freely accessible data service, ISMN provides harmonized and quality-controlled in situ soil moisture and ancillary environmental data essential for both research and real-world applications. ISMN will showcase how it supports a broad range of scientific research, data-driven policy-making, climate assessments, and satellite validation efforts. A special emphasis will be placed on strengthening regional collaboration, especially with underrepresented areas, and exploring innovative approaches for data collection, dissemination, and use.
Objectives:
- Encourage data sharing and inclusive community involvement in global soil moisture monitoring.
- Discuss innovations and challenges in in situ soil moisture observation, data quality assurance, and long-term sustainability.
- Facilitate knowledge exchange on novel monitoring techniques, including low-cost sensors, participatory monitoring, and education/outreach strategies.
- Increase visibility and understanding of the ISMN platform and its services
- Provide a forum for users, providers, stakeholders, and enthusiasts to share experiences, needs, and opportunities for collaboration.
Target Audience:
Hydrologists, agricultural and soil scientists, water resource managers, climate service providers, data managers, disaster risk practitioners, educators, citizen scientists, sensor developers, and policy makers interested in land-atmosphere interactions, water resource management, environmental monitoring, and earth observation.
Expected Outcome:
This side event will promote broader participation in the ISMN initiative and foster cross-sectoral collaboration. It will identify potential contributors and users of in situ soil moisture data, particularly from the Global South, and catalyze new partnerships to enhance monitoring capabilities and practical applications of soil moisture information worldwide.
Format:
Poster/Showcase: Overview of ISMN, its goals, and recent advancements in data availability, quality control, and real-world applications across sectors.
Open Discussion / Networking: Engaging participants in dialogue about data gaps, practical use cases, regional challenges, and collaboration opportunities. This session will help build lasting partnerships and stimulate future projects aligned with both scientific and societal needs.
