Automating sampling and sensing of contaminants in the shallow regolith
The Earth’s shallow regolith (top 10 to 20 m below ground surface) is a zone heavily impacted by various contaminants largely resulting from anthropogenic activities such as mining, agriculture, industry, and conflict. The zone itself plays an important role in terms of ecosystems and biodiversity, but also it provides some protection to groundwater supplies. The management and remediation of soil and groundwater from contaminants is estimated to cost in the order of >$2B per annum.
