E.S.I. Environmental Sensors Inc.

Address: 100-4243 Glanford Ave.
Victoria, BC V8Z 4B9
CA

Mailling Address: 100-4243 Glanford Ave.
Victoria, BC V8Z 4B9
CA

Phone: (250) 479-6588

Toll Free: 1(800) 799-6324

Fax: (250) 479-1412

Email: Click Here

Map it: Click Here

Website: http://www.esica.com

E.S.I. Environmental Sensors Inc.

E.S.I. Environmental Sensors Inc. is an established
environmental technology company based in Victoria, British
Columbia. The Company's principal focus has been the
development, manufacture and marketing of environmental
instruments. The company is broadening its scope of operations
to provide systems based solutions for soil and water
management. ESI is currently organized around its moisture monitoring technology.

Moisture Infiltration Monitoring Division

1. GRO.POINT is a rugged, portable, and easy to use product line
that is specifically designed so that farmers and commercial
growers can optimize irrigation programs. This in turn
maximizes yield and crop quality, saving water, energy and
improving farm profitability. ESI has established a subsidiary
in California and hired a highly experienced Product Manager to
better serve the agricultural market in the United States and
Mexico.
GRO.POINT is currently being integrated into a line of state-of-
the-art irrigation control systems so that the operator may
manage crop irrigation manually, or select options leading to a
fully automated system.

2. MOISTURE.POINT is an award winning soil moisture monitoring
system using a patented TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry)
technology. MOISTURE.POINT is unique in that it provides
simultaneous and extremely precise monitoring of moisture levels
at up to seven different depths with a single probe. No other
instrument can make this claim, and there are MOISTURE.POINT
systems operating in over 30 countries around the world.
Applications where these systems are being used include:

* Landfills, remediated and hazardous waste sites, roadways,
farms, and airports, are major sources of groundwater
contamination. MOISTURE.POINT systems are used to monitor
moisture levels and their role in the transport of toxins into
water systems such as rivers, lakes, and aquifers.

* Floods, water-borne erosion, and landslides, cause major
disruptions around the world. MOISTURE.POINT systems are being
used in several countries for, determining riverbank stability,
and monitoring slopes prone to landslides.

* Forestry is evolving from simply cutting down trees, to
dynamic management of a renewable resource. MOISTURE.POINT
systems are being used by both scientific organizations to
enhance the existing knowledge base on tree-growth and watershed
management, and by forestry companies who wish to grow tree
seedlings in the most efficient manner possible. Commercial
interests also use MOISTURE.POINT to determine a forests lumber
production potential, by monitoring water take-up and
subsequent tree growth rates.

On-going Research and Development

ESI is working with a government agency, and two multinational
oil companies to develop a new instrument that measures to a
high degree of accuracy the water cut of a producing oil well.
This device, which uses a proprietary technology exclusive to
the Company, has the potential to be installed in a significant
number of the worlds oil wells, and in pipelines. Development
is advancing rapidly, with field-testing in progress during the
spring and summer of 1999. This product, when brought to
market, should significantly reduce the production cost to take
oil from the ground, as well as identifying the point at which
an oil well becomes uneconomic, and should be shut down.

ESIs proprietary technology is also being used in the
development of another product in co-operation with Canadas
Federal Department of Agriculture. There is a defined and
recognized international need for an instrument that
simultaneously measures soil moisture, density and soil depth.
The product, known as a cone penetrometer, has been developed
under a joint venture agreement, with the Department carrying
almost all of the financial expenditure to date. Very
significant interest has already been indicated by over forty
international organizations in purchasing a cone penetrometer as
soon as it is available. Target unit selling price is $10,000.
Research papers using data collected with the instrument have
been presented at international symposia on soil science.

ConnectIT-1997

Company Details

Year Established: 1973

Total Sales ($CDN): $1,000,000 - $5,000,000

Number of Employees: 20

Company Information

Pierre Ballester
Title: Sales & Marketing
Area of Responsibility: Export Sales & Marketing
Telephone: (250) 479-6588
Fax: (250) 479-1412
Email: Click Here

Deborah Mantell
Title: Admin/Exec Assistant
Area of Responsibility: Administrative Services, Finance/Accounting
Telephone: (250) 479-6588
Fax: (250) 479-1412
Email: Click Here

Gail Gabel
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Area of Responsibility: Management Executive
Telephone: (250) 479-6588
Fax: (250) 479-1412
Email: Click Here

Products

Landfill Monitoring And Site Remediation

Soil Moisture Monitoring Equipment For Civil Engineers
Engineers, hydrologists and geologists require detailed moisture content data to properly evaluate soil stability. MOISTURE.POINT monitoring systems enable these professionals to analyze soil conditions with a high degree of accuracy, and make their recommendations with confidence. Current applications of MOISTURE.POINT in the Civil Engineering field include: * Development and design of water resources and irrigation drainage systems; * Moisture monitoring under structures; * Moisture monitoring in earth-filled dams; * Disaster prediction research related to topographical changes; * Analysis of sand arrestation and coastline protection/erosion; * Analysis of changeable water flow affected by melting snow; * Determination of water penetration and evaporation from soils; * Moisture monitoring in cement and cement building materials. MOISTURE.POINT's primary advantages are: * Installation of the system is simple, inexpensive, and with minimal site disturbance - no site excavation work is required, and data obtained represents an accurate reflection of the surrounding soil. * The system is extremely durable - even for extended periods of time under the worst climatic conditions. * MOISTURE.POINT data is easily collected on-site or remotely using conventional acquisition techniques and communications methods (including cellular). MOISTURE.POINT systems include a standard RS232 port for access to raw data, waveform display and system settings via personal computer. Following is a selection of typical MOISTURE.POINT applications in the field of civil engineering. Airport Groundwater Monitoring Gardermoen Airport, Norway Norway's use of MOISTURE.POINT may be significant first step to international information transfer on protection of groundwater resources. http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/air-app.htm MOISTURE.POINT systems are being used at the new Gardermoen Airport in Norway as part of a national study designed to provide a model of pollutant transportation and establish remedial actions against spreading of pollutants from the airport to the groundwater. Since the airport is situated on top of Norway's only clean underground freshwater aquifer, it is critical to understand the environmental impacts of the new airport on the subsurface. The surrounding land has diagonal soil layers comprised of different materials, with an approximate slope of 15 degrees. This slope could result in flow rates that significantly differ from the water infiltration models they had previously devised. The MOISTURE.POINT multiplexed system was installed to validate the flow models that have been designed, and to better understand the impact of potential airport-related groundwater contaminants. The Gardermoen Project is part of an extensive national project to increase understanding of how contaminants are bound and degraded in soil and groundwater, and thus to understand and predict their behaviour and spread. The study is also looking at the effects of contaminants on the natural processes in the soil and at the interaction with global biogeochemical cycles. The objective of the program is to further strengthen Norwegian expertise in contaminant hydrogeology. This expertise will enable Norwegians to supply industry and governmental agencies around the world with knowledge to develop new technologies and guidelines to protect groundwater resources and remediate contaminated soil and aquifers. Heavy Vehicle Traffic Puerto Rico and Vicksburg, Mississippi The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Waterways Experimental Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi is developing a soil moisture chart for heavy vehicle operators. The chart will indicate how much precipitation the soil can withstand before vehicles cannot be driven across the surface and how long after the precipitation before vehicles can be driven again. The study includes monitoring of soil moisture, soil strength, and precipitation events for a variety of soil types. Two MOISTURE.POINT instruments and Type K profiling probes (4 x 6) are being used. Phase I of the project was conducted in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has diverse topography, soil types and micro-climatic regions, all within close geographic proximity, making it an ideal location for this type of study. Soil moisture, weather station and soil strength data were collected from February until June of 1997. The MOISTURE.POINT system provided excellent results. In August 1997, the experiment was moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where the soil moisture, weather station and soil compaction data from Puerto Rico was also being analyzed. Throughout the remainder of the summer and fall, the study looked at the relationship between heavy vehicle traffic and soil moisture in a variety of sand, silt and silty loam soils along the banks of the Mississippi River. Road Monitoring Tennessee, U.S.A. Researchers in the Agricultural Engineering and Civil Engineering Departments of an American University are using MOISTURE.POINT to monitor substrate water content below asphaltic concrete pavement. The objective of the research is to demonstrate the seasonal variation in water content and temperature in pavement substrates, and to measure the effects of these variations on pavement performance. Three test sites have been selected for this study, representing the range of environmental and geotechnical conditions that exist across Tennessee. MOISTURE.POINT profiling probes have been placed horizontally in the soil substrate, stone substrate and asphalt stabilized base layer beneath the outer wheel path of the roadway. The installation was done from a trench constructed in the shoulder of the road. These profiling probes will allow monitoring of a wetting front moving horizontally in the substrate. MOISTURE.POINT single segment probes have been placed in the asphaltic concrete, installed during construction, before the material cooled. At each site, rainfall, air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation will be monitored. Temperature sensors have been placed in the asphalt concrete through a core hole. Non-destructive Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) tests will be periodically performed at each site to correlate pavement performance with environmental conditions. This will permit direct observation of the effects of substrate water content variations on pavement performance. A MOISTURE.POINT multiplexed datalogging system has been installed in a metal enclosure inside a concrete vault outside the roadway shoulder at each site. The system will collect data from the probes, substrate and pavement temperature sensors, rainfall tipping buckets and other climatological sensors. Atmospheric Research Kansas, U.S.A. The Argonne Boundary Layer Experiment (ABLE) is a new research initiative devoted to addressing a myriad of unresolved fundamental questions in atmospheric research. The initial focus of ABLE will be measurements of the planetary boundary layer where most interactions between the atmosphere and humans take place. Many important scientific issues are being addressed including natural disaster reduction, public safety, and water resource management. MOISTURE.POINT is being used in one study to better understand the relationship between soil moisture, soil hydraulic processes and precipitation length scales. A total of 16 sites will be monitored using MOISTURE.POINT five-segment profiling probes in the Towanda Sub-basin of Kansas. Spacing between the probes will be approximately 10m along a transect to obtain a two- dimensional representation of soil/water dynamics. The full installation will be composed of two eight-probe transects placed in a cross pattern. Temperature measurements will be made at three depths in the proximity of each probe to be used primarily for temperature corrections. Remote access to the automated system will be provided through the use of a cellular telephone modem link to allow for data retrieval and continuous site monitoring. Rain gauges will be installed to record date and time of each precipitation event. MOISTURE.POINT was selected for this study by researchers from Oregon State University because two similar systems had already been successfully deployed in the Boreal Ecosystem and Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) to monitor soil moisture. MOISTURE.POINT was selected to provide the moisture measurement data for these studies because of its unique features, including profiling of moisture at different depths with minimal soil disturbance; easy installation and relocation; and performance in different soil types.

Agriculture, Silviculture, And Soil Moisture Management
MOISTURE.POINT offers its users the unique ability to accurately measure horizontal and vertical soil moisture profiles - with virtually no disturbance to existing soil horizons. In the fields of agriculture, silviculture and irrigation, MOISTURE.POINT has numerous possible applications, including: * Determining correlations between soil moisture and other environmental variables on plant growth; * Accurately differentiating the moisture requirements between plant species; * Determining irrigation routines that provide an optimal root environment for balanced plant growth; * Determining irrigation routines that maximize water conservation. * Analyzing the distribution effectiveness of irrigation systems; Below is a selection of typical MoisturePoint applications in agriculture, silviculture, and irrigation. 1. Agriculture MOISTURE.POINT systems make it possible to conduct innovative and valuable agricultural research around the world. http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/agri-app.htm In each of the following applications, MOISTURE.POINT offers researchers the unique ability to monitor a vertical soil moisture profile. This can be accomplished with virtually no disturbance to existing soil horizons and, with an unparalleled degree of resolution in TDR-based data collection. Microspray Irrigation Management Study USDA-ARS, California Researchers are studying the effects of a microspray irrigation system on soil moisture distribution near large walnut tree root systems, versus in open areas. The correlation between soil moisture levels, soil pests and their control is also being studied. The trial is being replicated over five years in order to evaluate the long term impacts and the success of this irrigation management technique. The flexibility and ease of installation of the MOISTURE.POINT system has allowed researchers to obtain moisture level information in and around large root systems, providing accurate data collection in confined areas. Study of Impact of Greenhouse Effect on Water Availability Department of Geography, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland Researchers in Switzerland are currently studying the impact of the greenhouse effect on water availability for plants. MOISTURE.POINT systems are being used to measure soil moisture data for this study. Fifty one-square-metre cells with one-third of metre Plexiglas walls and a lid have been positioned on a steep slope with a southern exposure. Inside each cell, the atmosphere is artificially augmented with C02 delivered through a perforated conduit system. This artificial atmosphere is designed to emulate the atmosphere a few decades from now, based on the current C02 rate of increase. The cells are equipped with C02, 02 and temperature sensors. A circular antenna laid on the soil in each cell emits a frequency that brings earthworms to the surface. Counting the worms in each cell permits an assessment of the biological activity of the soil. Until recently, the study did not include accurate soil moisture data as the researchers had been unable to find probes suitable to this application. To be effective, the probes had to be installed in the soil to a depth of one metre without causing major disruption to the soil structure. Also, the probes had to be installed with little available surface area given the existing suite of sensors. MOISTURE.POINT was selected for its unique ability to meet these requirements. Assessment of Water Retention of Farm Fields under Varying Tillage Techniques Charlottetown Research Centre (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island At this facility, researchers are using MOISTURE.POINT to assess the water retention characteristics of farm fields under varying tillage techniques, with a focus on conservation tillage. This technique allows the residual mulch from potato plants to remain in the top soil layer, which is believed to reduce evapo-transpirative loss. At the same time, it is theorized that conservation tillage facilitates rapid water infiltration during irrigation or precipitation events. 2. Silviculture MOISTURE.POINT makes it possible to increase growth and yield, while saving on water, power and fertilizer. http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/silv-app.htm Tree nurseries are increasingly using new techniques, such as large potted seedlings and air-slit containers, in their effort to cultivate strong, healthy plants with well-developed root structures. Although it has been proven that irrigation techniques play a critical role in seedling physiology, traditional approaches to determining seasonal soil water requirements during the growth period have been typically qualitative. There has not been a quick, accurate means of measuring the water content in the potting medium (comprised of peat, vermiculite and sand)...until the development of MOISTURE.POINT. This is the first system to provide routine, precise volumetric moisture monitoring capability in a broad range of soils, including peat and other porous media used in greenhouse cultivation. MOISTURE.POINT provides the empirical data necessary for greenhouse specialists to establish effective irrigation routines that optimize growth and yield in their nursery. Greenhouse specialists can monitor water content of their soils in 'real-time', and irrigation can easily designed to accommodate seasonal conditions, tree species and planting media variations. Measuring Moisture Content in Peat Substrates Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources, Canada A recent study was undertaken by the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources in which water content was measured three times per week, using 24 probes in peat substrates within the tree production greenhouses. The MOISTURE.POINT system was used to determine moisture levels in several small containers by arranging one long single-diode probe to pass through several of the containers. MoisturePoint provided reliable measurement of water content in peat and vermiculite potting mixes with an average accuracy of better than 3%, reproducible from week to week. As well, ministry greenhouse staff were able to maintain preset moisture levels. 3. Irrigation Successful use of MOISTURE.POINT in raspberry farming allows for accurate scheduling of irrigation and saves 10 percent in watering costs for the season. http://www.esica.com/products/moisture/apps/irig-app.htm MOISTURE.POINT systems were installed in established raspberry fields near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The region has an annual moisture deficit of approximately 432-mm per growing season and raspberries must be irrigated to achieve optimum production. The farm currently has two types of irrigation systems - a hand- moved sprinkler system in one field and a trickle system in a second field. Moisture monitoring equipment was used in both fields to determine the effectiveness of the irrigation to develop new watering schedules to save water. One probe was installed in the sprinkler-irrigated field in the row line of the raspberry plants. In the trickle irrigated field, two probes were installed, one in the row midway between two point-source emitters and the other probe between the raspberry rows, approximately 1.5 metres from the emitters. The moisture data were recorded along with the time of day and weather conditions. Initially, readings were taken at three-to four-day intervals and then at closer intervals near sprinkler irrigation times. The sprinkler irrigation system was initially operated on a timed schedule that was independent of soil moisture levels. After the first two cycles of operation, the maximum soil moisture levels for different depths were determined. Similarly, minimum moisture levels to sustain food crop production were established. This enabled sprinkler irrigation scheduling to be planned based on safe moisture levels, rather than on time. The user claims that the instrument not only saved water due to more accurate scheduling knowledge, but it also saved 10% of the cost of the irrigation water for the season.

Soil Moisture Monitoring Equipment
MOISTURE.POINT uses patented TDR technology to produce increased signal levels, enabling the system to operate in a broader range of soils. MOISTURE.POINT delivers contiguous profiles with up to seven readings from a single probe. The MOISTURE.POINT System is designed to handle a broad range of industry and research applications. Landfill Monitoring, Irrigation, Civil Engineering, Agriculture, Forestry, Mining, Site Remediation, Research.

Optimizing The Use Of Irrigation In Crop Management
GRO.POINT is a rugged, easy to use, and maintenance-free instrument for soil moisture management. It provides immediate and accurate responses to changes in soil moisture in the root zone, and is designed to remain in the soil for the duration of a crop, or even on a permanent basis. GRO.POINT can operate on a stand-alone basis, or is easily integrated into an ESI or other automated irrigation control system. Designed and developed by ESI, GRO.POINT is a cost-effective soil moisture-sensing instrument that provides accurate measurement of soil moisture by volume. GRO.POINT uses a refined TDT technology that was specifically developed to provide growers with the management information that is required to enable them to: * obtain higher yields * grow better quality crops * optimize water use * reduce excessive leaching. Manufactured in stainless steel with all interfaces sealed in epoxy, the GRO.POINT soil moisture instrument will provide years of reliable service. There are currently two models available: the GRO.POINT Standard Sensor and the Extended Range Sensor.

Environmental Products And Services

Moisture Monitoring Systems

Moisturepoint Soil Moisture Monitoring System
Moisture infiltration into solid and hazardous waste landfills, and tailings and waste rock deposits at mine sites produces toxic leachate that are a major source of groundwater contamination. MoisturePoint soil moisture monitoring system provides dynamic information on moisture infiltration into the engineered natural soil cover systems over these waste facilities. This allows regulators to assess the performance of the cover systems and take remedial action, if necessary. Offering an unprecedented combination of portability, ease of operation, and high precision, MoisturePoint is an award-winning, innovative system for measuring volumetric soil moisture. With over four years of development and laboratory/field testing, MoisturePoint is the ultimate moisture monitoring system offering its users the unique ability to monitor a vertical or horizontal soil moisture profile. MoisturePoint is specifically designed with features for both general purpose and scientific use, and it provides an unparalleled degree of accuracy and resolution - with virtually no disturbance to existing soil horizons.

Moisture-point Moisture Monitoring System
Bio-reactive landfills and composting facilities need the moisture level maintained within a very specific moisture range if the biodegradation of the waste is to be an effective process. Offering an unprecedented combination of portability, ease of operation, and high precision, MoisturePoint is an award-winning, innovative system for measuring volumetric soil moisture. With over four years of development and laboratory/field testing, MoisturePoint is the ultimate moisture monitoring system offering its users the unique ability to monitor a vertical or horizontal soil moisture profile. MoisturePoint is specifically designed with features for both general purpose and scientific use, and it provides an unparalleled degree of accuracy and resolution - with virtually no disturbance to existing soil horizons.

Services

Monitoring For Alternative Landfill Cover Validation MOISTURE.POINT offers powerful decision support for alternative landfill cover validation In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains stringent regulations regarding the final cover of a closed landfill. The intent of their 'Subtitle D' prescriptive final closure is to create a cover which will eliminate water infiltration and minimize erosion. The EPA's prescribed cover includes a 6 inch 'erosion layer', designed to support native vegetation, directly above an 18 inch low-permeability 'infiltration layer', commonly composed of clay or bentonite. Solid Waste Landfill Closures In many parts of the United States, clay or bentonite is not locally available. To meet the EPA's prescribed landfill cover definition in these regions, these infiltration layer materials must be acquired and transported from other regions, at great cost. An additional problem with both clay and bentonite is that they are liable to crack and desiccate in arid regions, thus undermining the integrity of the cap. Alternative / Monolithic Cover Designs Motivated by the above financial and operational incentives, many cities, municipalities and landfill operators are looking to close their solid waste landfills with an alternative final cover. The monolithic approach, a final cover design comprised of compacted locally available, low-permeability soil, is quickly gaining acceptance at all levels, including government regulators, environmental engineering firms and end users. The net benefits are (1) significant cost advantages over the prescribed cover design, and (2) reduced operational concerns in terms of cover implementation and maintenance. Implementation of an alternative landfill cover design requires approval by government regulators. A prerequisite of the approval process is validation of the integrity of the cover; i.e.: Is it working? If a moisture monitoring system is required to validate the performance of the alternative final cover, E.S.I. Environmental Sensors Inc.'s MOISTURE.POINT provides the solution. Landfill Monitoring Arizona, U.S.A. Regulations have been developed in the United States to define a cover design for landfill closures that provides an impervious barrier to surface moisture infiltration and thus prevents contamination of the groundwater. The regulations recognize that regional variations may not suit the prescribed cover design, and an allowance for alternative designs is included. Alternative designs must pass a rigorous approval process. Covers usually include the construction of a clay layer, which is prone to desiccation and cracking in arid climates. When this happens, the clay layer allows water to penetrate through it. Alternative cover designs must maintain an unsaturated profile inhibiting breakthrough and, where appropriate, enhancing evapo- transpiration with native plant species. A MOISTURE.POINT Landfill Monitoring System incorporates ESI's patented multi-segment profiling probes together with a full suite of meteorological sensors to provide a complete monitoring system for alternative landfill cover validation. The probes are installed vertically from the surface with minimal soil disturbance. Additional system options include solar power and cellular modem for remote, unattended operation and data communications. The system is easy to use and provides reliable moisture data in contiguous profiles with minimal site impact. MOISTURE.POINT has little calibration sensitivity to variations in soil structure, and provides a predictable response to variations in soil conductivity, soil structure and permeability. In addition, MOISTURE.POINT allows for post- construction sensor installation without disturbing the soil profile. In a recent application in the State of Arizona, an alternative test cover study has been implemented with a goal of demonstrating that an effective alternative cover can be constructed using locally available silty sand soils. MOISTURE.POINT was selected to provide the data necessary to validate the effectiveness of the alternative cover design. The focus of the study is on two one-acre test covers constructed at the landfill. Each test cover has a dedicated, multiplexed soil moisture monitoring system, housed in a weatherproof enclosure, located in a central location on the test cover. Each test cover contains 29 soil moisture-sensing probes, each providing readings at five different depths. The data allows regulators from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to assess whether or not the test covers meet the requirement of the regulations.

Irrigation Control Monitoring

Custom Engineering Of Environmental Monitoring Prd

Installation Of All Their Monitoring Systems

Maintenance Of All Their Monitoring Systems