A technical collaboration between Delta-T Devices and a leading infrastructure monitoring specialist is helping the rail sector better understand changing ground conditions that can affect railway earthworks across the UK and Europe.
The Cambridge-based company is supplying its industry-leading soil moisture measurement technology to Senceive, where it is being integrated with wireless infrastructure monitoring systems to provide asset managers with near-real-time data on changing ground conditions and support earlier intervention.
The innovative approach, which was first put to the test at a dedicated Dudley test site, has subsequently been adopted on Network Rail infrastructure at locations prone to flooding and is also currently in operation on German railways.
“It’s a natural fit…we provide high-quality data on subsurface soil moisture, while Senceive provides the wireless infrastructure required to incorporate this crucial information into a wider remote-monitoring solution,” explained Tony Peloe, Export Sales & Business Development Manager at Delta-T Devices.
“Soil moisture can provide an early indication of changing conditions within railway embankments and cuttings, helping engineers identify developing risks and building a more complete picture of asset condition.
“For example, a high moisture content can affect soil strength, increase pore-water pressure and contribute to slope instability and erosion.”
He continued: “Prolonged dry spells, like we saw this summer, can result in clay shrinkage, cracking and ground movement. Very dry soil can also become less able to absorb water when intense rainfall arrives, increasing the potential for rapid run-off and flooding – another serious issue for Network Rail and its partners.”
Delta-T Devices’ soil moisture sensors add a valuable environmental measurement layer to wider infrastructure-monitoring capability.
The firm’s SM150T Soil Moisture Sensor provides point-specific measurements of soil moisture, while the PR2 Profile Probe provides simultaneous soil moisture measurements at multiple depths through the soil profile.
Together, the sensors can provide insight into both localised conditions and how moisture varies below the surface. Both can be integrated with Senceive’s InfraGuard™ protected drainage application, enabling measurements to be collected remotely through specialist interface nodes.
Data is then relayed from InfraGuard™ to an on-site gateway and transmitted via cellular connection to Senceive’s WebMonitor™ data visualisation platform for remote viewing and analysis.
In essence, the technical collaboration gives asset managers a more comprehensive, near-real-time understanding of site conditions, providing additional information that can support earlier intervention and help reduce the risk of costly disruption.
“We directly handled the installation of our technology at the Dudley test site and provided application expertise to help Senceive and their clients understand how soil moisture measurements should be interpreted,” Tony added.
“For example, our discussions covered the benefits of measuring at multiple depths, how saturation and drainage rates might be interpreted, and the importance of accounting for site-specific variables, such as soil composition, slope, rainfall and vegetation.
“We have also offered further on-site installation support and technical demonstrations directly to Network Rail.”
James Taylor, Product and Application Manager at Senceive, added: “This is a great collaboration between two trusted technology partners, exploring how high-quality soil moisture data can enhance wider infrastructure monitoring solutions.
“There is excellent potential for this relationship to grow as part of our multi-sensor drainage monitoring application, alongside rainfall, water-level, slope-stability and camera-verification capabilities.”
Delta-T Devices, which manufactures high-quality scientific instruments and monitoring systems for environmental research, commercial horticulture and solar PV applications, is marking 55 years in business in 2026.
Demand for the firm’s industry-leading product range has seen it hit £5m in annual sales, a £1.5m increase since 2021.
It has also invested in strengthening its team, bringing in experienced new department heads and developing capabilities across the business at its original Burwell home, where its modern HQ stands alongside the affectionately named ‘Tudor Barn’, an extraordinary late 16th-century building where the company began.
For further information, please visit www.delta-t.co.uk or follow the company across its socials.
