Systems and methods for measuring a parameter of a landfill including a barrier cap and wireless sensor systems and methods

A method of measuring a parameter of a landfill including a cap, without passing wires through the cap, the method comprising:

• burying at least two sensor apparatuses in the landfill, wherein at least one sensor apparatus is below the cap and at least one sensor apparatus is above the cap, the sensor apparatuses including a processor, a radio frequency detector coupled to the processor, a radio frequency transmitter coupled to the processor, and a sensor coupled to the processor;
• providing a reader capable of communicating with the sensor apparatuses via short range telemetry communication;
• placing an antenna above the barrier, spaced apart from the sensor apparatuses;
• coupling the antenna to the reader either before or after placing the antenna above the barrier;
• providing power to the sensor apparatuses, via the antenna, by generating a field using the reader;
• accumulating and storing power in the sensor apparatuses from the field;
• sensing parameters of the landfill using the sensor apparatuses while using power;
• transmitting the sensed parameters to the reader via a wireless response signal;
• and
• determining water flux through the cap using the sensed parameters.

A system for measuring a parameter of a landfill including a cap, without passing wires through the cap, the system comprising:

• at least two sensor apparatuses configured to be buried in the landfill, wherein at least one sensor apparatus is under the cap and at least one sensor apparatus is above the cap;
• a reader capable of communicating with the sensor apparatuses via radio frequency;
• and
• an antenna configured to be placed above the barrier, spaced apart from the sensor apparatuses
• and to be coupled to the reader either before or after placing the antenna above the
• barrier, the reader being configured to provide power to the sensor apparatuses, via the antenna, by generating a field, the sensor apparatuses being configured to accumulate and store power from the field, the sensor apparatuses being configured to sense a parameter of the landfill while using power, and the sensor apparatuses being configured to transmit the sensed parameter to the reader via a wireless response signal;
• wherein the reader is configured to determine water flux through the cap using the sensed parameter from the at least one sensor apparatus under the cap and the sensed parameter from the at least one sensor apparatus above the cap.

A system for measuring parameters of a landfill including a cap, without passing wires through the cap, the system comprising:

• at least two sensor apparatuses configured to be buried in the landfill, wherein at least one sensor apparatus is below the cap and at least one sensor apparatus is above the cap, the sensor apparatuses including a processor, a radio frequency detector coupled to the processor, a radio frequency transmitter coupled to the processor, and a sensor coupled to the processor;
• a reader capable of communicating with the sensor apparatuses via radio frequency;
• and
• an antenna configured to be placed above the barrier, spaced apart from the sensor apparatuses and to be coupled to the reader either before or after placing the antenna above the barrier, the reader being configured to provide power to the sensor apparatuses, via the antenna, by generating a field, the sensor apparatuses being configured to accumulate and store power from the field, the sensor apparatuses being configured to sense a parameter of the landfill while using power, and the sensor apparatuses being configured to transmit the sensed parameter to the reader via a wireless response signal;
• wherein the reader is configured to determine water flux through the cap using the sensed parameter from the at least one sensor apparatus below the cap and the sensed parameter from the at least one sensor apparatus above the cap.