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Published: 2026-05-21
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.53747/nst.v12i3.386
Issue
Vol. 12 No. 3 (2022)
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Nguyen, . D. T., Vu , V. T., Mai , V. D., Khuong , T. T., Vu , T. T., Cao , Đuc V., & Nguyen , T. H. (2026). Study on design, construction and testing of cosmic-ray soil moisture observing system in Vietnam. Nuclear Science and Technology, 12(3), 21-33. https://doi.org/10.53747/nst.v12i3.386

Study on design, construction and testing of cosmic-ray soil moisture observing system in Vietnam

Nguyen Duc Tuan1, Vu Van Tien1, Mai Van Dien2, Khuong Thanh Tuan1, Vu Trung Tan2, Cao Đuc Viet2, Nguyen Thanh Hung3
1 Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology,
2 Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology
3 Hanoi Irradiation Center

Main Article Content

Abstract

A new method has been developed in the world called Cosmic-Ray Neutron Sensing (CRNS) for measuring area-average soil moisture at the hectometer horizontal scale. The CRNS principle was based on the measurement of neutrons produced by cosmic rays in air, soil and other materials. These neutrons are moderated by mainly hydrogen atoms located in soil, and emitted into the atmosphere at the scale of hundreds of meters and its density is inversely correlated with soil moisture [3]. The CRNS technique has been known for more than 10 years [21] and validated by many scientific publications in the world. Together with other traditional methods for soil moisture determination such as point measurement and remote sensing, CRNS technique will effectively contribute to the real-time monitoring of drought, prediction of flash floods and landslides, or planning irrigation in smart agriculture. This paper is written to introduce the results of the COSMOS-VINATOM project of the Ministry of Science and Technology. By this project, this is the first time the CRNS technique has been applied in Vietnam, a country greatly affected by global climate change. The cosmic-ray soil moisture measurement method and the design of a specific COSMOS using advanced technologies in neutron and muon detector, signal processing and data transmission are described in this paper. This system has also been tested in the field in Xuan Canh commune, Dong Anh district, Hanoi, Vietnam with initial positive results.

Article Details

Keywords

Soil moisture, cosmic-ray neutron, scintillation neutron detector, muon detector

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