Portable rugged FTIR sensor for greenhouse gas emissions from soils

Overview

This solution addresses the growing need for accurate, field-deployable monitoring of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soils. The technology adapts FTIR infrared spectrometers, traditionally used for remote sensing, into a portable and rugged form factor suitable for agricultural and environmental field applications. By combining multi-pass optical path configurations with frequency modulation spectroscopy, the sensor delivers enhanced sensitivity and specificity for detecting trace amounts of gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide near the soil surface.

The core value proposition is enabling reliable, on-site measurement of soil GHG fluxes without requiring samples to be transported to laboratory facilities. This supports farmers, agronomists, environmental researchers, and regulatory bodies in obtaining real-time emissions data to inform sustainable land management practices, validate carbon credit programs, and comply with environmental monitoring requirements.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• Multi-pass optical path that increases the effective path length of infrared light through the gas sample, amplifying absorption signals and improving detection limits for trace gases
• Frequency modulation spectroscopy that suppresses low-frequency noise, resulting in a higher signal-to-noise ratio and more accurate concentration measurements
• Gas-specific fingerprinting using distinctive infrared absorption signatures unique to each greenhouse gas for identification and quantification
• Rugged, portable form factor designed for field deployment in agricultural environments, enabling in-situ measurements rather than relying on laboratory analysis
• Adaptation of proven FTIR technology from remote sensing platforms into a compact, field-ready instrument

Technology readiness level

This technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development. The underlying FTIR spectroscopy principles for trace gas detection are well-established in research literature. The current focus is on a structured proof-of-concept study that includes building a laboratory setup with a small form factor spectrometer, validating sensitivity using pure gas cells, testing field samples collected from multiple field locations, and benchmarking results against gas chromatography as the gold standard technique. The next milestone is completing this validation study to confirm specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy before advancing toward field-ready deployment.