The measurement infrastructure in SmartField consists of two supersites and a mobile system. The mobile system is scheduled for release in 2026.
The SmartField Mobile System is designed to measure greenhouse gas emissions at different locations in Denmark. It will be used to test novel soil N₂O mitigation measures on soil types or for cropping systems and management strategies that are not fully covered by experiments at the supersites. The system can either be deployed in existing experiments around the country, or a new experiment can be setup at the University of Copenhagen’s experimental site in Taastrup.
Access to the SmartField Mobile System will be granted for short periods of time (3-12 months), depending on the objective of the experiment. If permission is granted, the SmartField technicians will collaborate with the grantee to plan the measurements, after which the measurements will commence according to the agreed plans.
Description of the Mobile System
The SmartField Mobile System comprises two components that can be used together or separately:
- The flux tower system which is used for flux gradient measurements from one large field (>1 ha)
- Chamber system for automated flux measurements for smaller trial plots (e.g. 5m x 8 m)
The flux tower system consists of a flux tower which measures N₂O/CH4/CO₂ at a high temporal resolution (30 min) from a flat field site without obstacles such as tree around it measuring approx. 100 x 100 m. The instrument is installed in an air-conditioned trailer. Access to mains power is a pre-requirement.
The chamber system consists of 12 automatic chambers connected to an analyser that measures CO₂, N₂O, CH4 and C₂H₂ at a high temporal resolution. The system is installed in a large trailer containing the instruments, which is large enough to contain the chambers. Also, for this equipment access to mains power is required.
Other registrations such as weather data, soil moisture and temperature will be measured. All trial data will be stored in a database managed by Danish Technological Institute
Who can apply?
Stakeholders (e.g. companies, knowledge institutions, universities) with ideas or projects involving experiments to test technologies or strategies aiming at mitigating N₂O emissions can submit a proposal for access to the system.
What are the conditions?
The grantee will gain access to the system and the grantee must make the experimental area available. Furthermore, the grantee must pay the running costs of the experiment and electricity required to power the system. The SmartField technical team will operate the measurement equipment.
Data collected using the system will be freely available to both the grantee and the SmartField consortium. We expect the data to be made publicly available within two years of the experiment ending.
During this two-year period, the grantee has sole responsibility for publication of the data, while thereafter, the PI responsible for the SmartField Mobile System has the right of publication. Co-authorship by the PI of the mobile system in support of its use by the grantee is expected.
Requirements for deployment of the mobile system
Requirements for the flux tower system:
- The experimental area must be approx. 200 m x 200 m. It must be homogeneous, flat terrain and with the same treatment history across the whole area. There must be no objects (trees, power poles, fences, buildings etc.) near the field that could disturb the windfield.
- Access to a power supply (220 V, 8A) at the experimental site.
Requirements for the Chamber System:
- The experimental area must be approx. 50 m x 50 m and homogeneous and with the same treatment history across the whole area.
- Access to power supply (220 V, 8A) at the experimental site.
The evaluation process
All applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- The potential to mitigate N₂O emissions from fields
- The potential effects on environmental sustainability (e.g. nitrate leaching and ecotoxicology), and the impact on crop yield
- The TRL level of the mitigation measure
- The practical and economic feasibility of the mitigation measure
- Applicability of the mobile system in the proposed experimental setup
The applications will be evaluated by the SmartField Project Management and Coordination Team, who will compile a shortlist of applications for evaluation by the SmartField Scientific Advisory Board. The Board will select three applications to be presented for the Executive Steering Committee, that will make the final decision.
Deadlines
Applications for experiments to be conducted in 2026 must be submitted by 20 October 2025 at 12:00 (noon).
Applicants will be notified of the outcome in December 2025.
