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The going is good for AQUAFLEX in Horse Racing
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AQUAFLEX soil moisture measurement has been installed at York Racecourse since 1998 and results from the system have been providing the course committee with round-the-clock information on the moisture content and temperature of the soil within the racecourse.
AQUAFLEX was installed in the course and connected to a logger that continuously records both temperature and soil moisture content. The sensor works by sending a series of pulses along a flexible ribbon-like sensor. The moisture in the surrounding soil affects the time taken for the pulses to travel along the sensor and it is from this information that moisture is calculated. Temperature is recorded independently and the moisture reading is automatically adjusted for temperature fluctuations over time.
Stuart Arksey, York Race Committee commented, "I have been very impressed how accurate the system is and how much I have come to use the information it produces. The equipment is very easy to use and gives me detailed records of ground conditions and graphs that clearly show rainfall, drainage and moisture levels"
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One of the most significant observations that has become apparent at York is the way the moisture readings correlate to the penetrometer readings taken to determine the "going" of the course prior to a race meeting.
"Clearly, the degree to which moisture will affect the softness of the ground is influenced by the soil type." Says Stuart, "However, it is remarkable how closely our penetrometer records have followed the moisture and temperature records from AQUAFLEX and I have no doubt that within a particular course, the system can provide valuable back-up records that can be used to make objective decisions relating to the prevailing ground conditions."
AQUAFLEX can be calibrated for different soil types and the system is being used in a wide range of applications in sport and agriculture.
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"I have been very impressed how accurate the system is and how much I have come to use the information it produces."
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AQUAFLEX installed in one of the worlds most famous traditional horse races.
One of the worlds most famous, unusual and traditional horse races takes place in the Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy. The race takes place in the city square!
Every year, the Piazza (city square) fills with 40,000 spectators to watch the historic horse race between competing contrada's or city regions. Although the event has taken place for over a thousand years, the present event dates from 1656 when the course moved to the Piazza from several back streets in the city.
The Piazza's cobblestones are covered with a thick layer of soil that is made up of ground volcanic rock, especially for the race, and so ensue four days of celebration and rehearsal for the big day. The same soil has been used every year for centuries.
Every year there are two races (2nd July and 15th August) in the year 2000, to mark the millennium, there were three races with the final being on September 9th. You may wonder where Aquaflex would have an application in this type of sporting event, because after the races, the volcanic rock is taken up and the Piazza returned to it's familiar cobblestones until the next race. The answer is that the racing surface needs to be in perfect condition as the race can be quite dangerous for horses and riders alike, and the ground needs to be consistently monitored to ensure it is in peak condition. That's where AQUAFLEX comes in.
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Aquaflex was chosen for its ability to constantly measure ground moisture and temperature over a large area, so giving a representative result
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In order to ensure the race is always run in optimum conditions, the Municipality of Siena enlist the services of Pragma Engineering of Perugia (Italy) to develop monitoring and control systems that would help to identify and to maintain the better soil conditions.
AQUAFLEX was chosen for its ability to constantly measure ground moisture and temperature over a large area, so giving a representative result, and for its accuracy and suitability for the application. So when the crowds gather for the next race in the Piazza del Campo, AQUAFLEX will be there from the start, doing what it does best - performing.
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