ATB reported on 2 April 2025 that its RapidMapper platform had completed initial trials with a Raman measurement system developed by the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut. The work formed part of the ATB-coordinated Intelligence for Soil project.
The system uses shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy, or SERDS, to distinguish molecular signals from interference such as fluorescence and surrounding light. A probe collected measurements five to ten centimetres below the surface while the platform moved, with spectra recorded alongside GPS positions.
The researchers aim to extend the platform's existing soil measurements with information about carbonates and organic substances. At publication, the initial trial data were still being evaluated. The announcement described a research advance toward richer soil maps, rather than a commercially validated replacement for laboratory analysis.
