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# Instant Soil Contamination Detectors
The RemScan Hand-held Device Measures Soil Contamination

By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2014-05-22 | Eco
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soil-contamination
References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/remscam-detection-soil-contamination-hydrocarbon/32147/) & [csiro.au](http://www.csiro.au/Portals/Media/Soil-contamination-detector-launched-in-the-US.aspx)

RemScan is the world's first [hand-held instrument](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/imaging-tool) that is able to detect the presence of soil contamination, as represented by the amount of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons in the soil. This self-contained, easy-to-use device is capable of testing hundreds of a soil samples a day and providing reliable data without the need for a laboratory.

The device uses [infra-red spectroscopy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/concentration-measurement-tool) to analyze and characterize soil samples within 15 seconds, displaying the results on a screen. The data is also stored on an SD card and can be downloaded to a computer as a spreadsheet file.

Users simply have to prepare the soil area by tamping down with a provided tool, and then placing the RemScan on the soil. The resulting soil contamination readings are then displayed on the screen.

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 4.1/10
- Popularity: 32% | Activity: 83% | Freshness: 8%
- Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women
- Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X
- Top markets: North America, Europe

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco)

## Key Themes

### Key Themes Behind This Trend

- **Hand-held Soil Sensors:** Developing more hand-held sensors can help businesses quickly identify soil contamination and take necessary actions.
- **Infra-red Spectroscopy:** Using infra-red spectroscopy for quick analysis of soil samples can open doors to faster data collection and analysis in various industries.
- **Self-contained Testing Devices:** Creating more self-contained testing devices can provide a more portable and easy-to-use approach for soil contamination detection.

### Where This Applies

- **Agriculture:** The RemScan device can help farmers detect soil contamination before planting crops.
- **Real Estate:** Real estate developers and agents can use the RemScan device to test potential land acquisitions for soil contaminants.
- **Environmental Monitoring:** Government agencies and environmental organizations can utilize RemScan to quickly identify and map areas of soil contamination.

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