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title: Space & Water Nexus Hackathon - Challenge by Aerovision
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# Actionable Insights on Soil Compaction

### Published date: 15-09-2026

## What is the challenge?

Soil compaction is a significant but difficult-to-measure problem in agriculture. Heavy machinery can cause compaction in deeper soil layers, restricting water flows through the soil. This can lead to increased peak runoff during heavy rainfall, including the loss of nutrients and agrochemicals, while also reducing resilience during dry periods due to disturbed capillary rise.

Farmers are generally aware of the problem, but the extent and impact of soil compaction are rarely measured. As a result, preventive and remedial actions are also limited.

The challenge is to develop a hybrid satellite and in-situ approach to measure soil compaction and its impact, for example on reduced crop yields, increased risks and associated effects.

## Who encounters or is affected by this challenge?

Farmers are directly affected by soil compaction. Its consequences can also affect water authorities, municipalities, food processors and neighbouring areas such as nature reserves.

## What should you work towards during the hackathon?

Investigate how soil compaction can be measured. As compaction occurs in deeper soil layers, approximately 30–120 cm below the surface, teams could look at its observable effects, such as waterlogging or crop stress.

A satellite-only solution may not be sufficient. Teams are therefore encouraged to consider hybrid monitoring approaches that combine satellite data with in-situ observations or measurements and that are both efficient and practical.

The approach should focus on the Netherlands, potentially extending to Flanders and north-west Germany, and on arable land with major crops such as potatoes, onions and sugar beet, potentially also including feed crops such as silage and forage. Sandy and loamy soils are of particular interest.

Solutions should be practical, for example by incorporating accessible field observations or equipment and instructions that farmers could use, and should have the potential to scale.

## What could you demonstrate, test or validate by the end of the hackathon?

A statistical analysis demonstrating the monitoring capability of a hybrid satellite-data system, for example by matching patterns of puddles in winter with reduced crop performance in summer.

## How is this challenge currently addressed?

Soil compaction is difficult to measure. A common approach is to use hand penetrologgers in the field, such as those provided by Royal Eijkelkamp.

## What is currently missing or could be improved?

What is currently missing is actionable information about the extent and severity of soil compaction that can support farmers and water authorities in developing appropriate remediation plans.

## Challenge owner availability during the Hackathon

The availability of a representative from AeroVision on site during the hackathon is to be confirmed.

## Additional materials, data and tools

Additional challenge materials, relevant data and information about available tools and resources will be shared with registered participants ahead of and during the hackathon via Discord and on site.

### Questions?

[hackathons@groundstation.space](mailto:hackathons@groundstation.space)

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