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- Notes on Array Mounting

It is possible to mount multiple turfRad sensors in an "array" style configuration on a cart to make covering large areas quicker, with larger space between passes, than with a single-sensor setup. We have gathered some insights from our experience and provide our recommendations here: 

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Recommendations:​

  1. We recommend maintaining 10 ft (3 m) between sensors in your array to avoid any “crossing” of tracks due to GPS error. ​
  2. The turfRad GPS accuracy is approximately 1.5 m (5 ft) per sensor.​
  3. Pass spacing matters too: To avoid visible data gaps, keep your driving pass spacing within 5 m (16.5 ft) for complete coverage. If your passes are spaced wider than this, turfRad may display a gap in the map.
  4. Crossing of tracks will throw off the moisture interpolation algorithm taking the wrong side’s measurements for interpolation with the next pass which can cause “striping” in the resulting maps.​
  5. Arrays with 2 sensors are more manageable, 3 sensors will require roughly 10 ft booms on each side of the cart. ​
  6. There is no limit to how fast you can drive. The sensor takes 10 measurements per second. The table below shows the measurement spacing, in the driving direction, according to driving speed:​

  7. Important: Make sure your GPS antenna is placed as close to the sensor as possible. 


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You can use the universal turfRad mount hardware as a component of your "array" or you can go fully custom. Because the sensors are designed and manufactured in Europe (Switzerland), the units for dimensions and hardware are metric. We provide the conversion to inches in parentheses below:

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What Happens If There Are Gaps in Coverage?

If you miss a small area while scanning, turfRad will typically fill in minor gaps automatically using surrounding measurements. This process is called interpolation, and it helps create a continuous moisture map even if coverage is not perfectly uniform. However, if the missed area is too large — if the distance between passes exceeds ~5 meters (16.5 ft) — turfRad will show a visible data gap on the map.

For a further explanation, see: What Happens If I Miss a Spot While Scanning With the Array Mount?