POCT focuses on individual measurements and spot assessments conducted directly on site, without the need for permanently installed systems. The emphasis is on fast, low-effort analyses that require minimal sample preparation and offer maximum flexibility for situational deployment. As the following examples illustrate, POCT is particularly well suited to changing operating environments and circumstances that require immediate decisions.

Sensor-Based On-Site Diagnostics as a Foundation for Real-Time Control in Wastewater Treatment

Decentralized wastewater treatment plants and small-scale treatment systems, such as those used at campgrounds, are subject to strict environmental regulations. At the same time, they must be operated efficiently and at low cost. Occasional measurements alone are generally insufficient to achieve optimal treatment performance.

POCT can play a key role in data-driven, automated wastewater management. Decentralized on-site analytics can continuously and rapidly provide essential process data such as flow rates, nutrient levels, and oxygen concentrations. Data acquisition can be achieved using highly accurate and cost-effective sensors, each with specific strengths and limitations.

The intelligent networking of these sensors opens up opportunities for remote monitoring and data-driven process control. If sufficiently smart – and robust – sensors are available, treatment processes can be controlled in real time, while maintenance activities can be planned proactively through accurate predictions of the optimal intervention time (predictive maintenance).

In addition, a digital twin of the treatment plant – a precise virtual representation of the physical system – enables a deeper understanding of process interactions and supports operation closer to optimal performance. Economic efficiency can be increased further by combining a limited number of low-cost sensors with suitable AI models. In many cases, good measurement quality is sufficient; laboratory-grade accuracy is not always necessary.

Sensor-Based Water Wall for Improved Barn Climate in Pig Farming

Agricultural livestock production generates greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide. Ammonia emissions originating from animal waste also contribute indirectly to an unfavorable environmental footprint. Farms face increasing regulatory pressure to reduce emissions while simultaneously maintaining animal welfare, energy efficiency, and economic viability.

One promising approach is a sensor-based water wall system that captures harmful gases and dust particles from the barn air while also improving the indoor climate through water evaporation (adiabatic cooling). Such a system is controlled by a network of sensors – for example, measuring ammonia, CO₂, temperature, and humidity – combined with intelligent algorithms that provide the foundation for targeted emission reduction. The conflict between emission control, animal comfort (e.g., avoiding drafts), and energy efficiency can be mitigated through adaptive, data-driven operation that continuously establishes favorable environmental conditions. As a result, significant reductions in ammonia and dust levels, along with lower microbial loads, can be achieved while maintaining more stable temperature and humidity conditions within the barn.

Successful practical deployment requires robust sensor technology capable of withstanding harsh barn environments, as well as customized control systems. An additional benefit of collecting sensor data is the ability to identify correlations between barn climate and animal behavior, such as preferred resting areas. The sensor system can therefore also serve as an indirect indicator of animal welfare.

Mobile Soil Analytics for More Targeted Fertilizer Application

Modern agriculture must address the challenges of climate change and resource scarcity. Conventional laboratory analyses are often too time-consuming and expensive when rapid responses are required. By contrast, direct on-site approaches allow data to be collected immediately in the field.

Technology and Operating Principles                                                                                

Mobile, miniaturized electrochemical sensors and IoT networks are the basis. The sensor systems and connected IT infrastructure enable continuous monitoring of critical soil parameters, including:

• Nutrients: especially nitrate, which is crucial for both crop yield and environmental protection.
• Soil properties: pH value and temperature.
• Water balance: soil moisture.

Benefits of On-Site Analytics                                                                                         

Because soil conditions vary significantly across both space and time, high measurement density is essential. Mobile diagnostics offer several key advantages:

• Real-time data: Results are available immediately, without having to send samples to an external laboratory.
• Precision: Fertilization and irrigation can be tailored precisely to the needs of individual field zones.
• Sustainability: Targeted interventions reduce costs and minimize environmental impacts, such as nitrate leaching.

Moving analytics from the laboratory directly into the field is therefore a key enabler of data-driven agriculture. It combines economic efficiency with environmental responsibility and supports highly precise, real-time farm management.

Mobile Analytics Can Save Lives in Hazardous Situations

A critical application area for mobile analytical systems is the rapid detection of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) hazards. Such threats may arise from industrial accidents, fires, or deliberate attacks. In crisis situations, hazardous substances must be identified on site and without delay, enabling emergency responders to take immediate action rather than waiting for time-consuming laboratory analyses.

A range of portable technologies is available for this purpose. Handheld ion mobility spectrometers (IMS), for example, can detect toxic industrial chemicals in the air within seconds at concentrations down to the ppm (parts per million) or ppb (parts per billion) range and automatically trigger alarms. Mobile mass spectrometers and infrared spectrometers can be used to identify more complex substances.

Mobile analytics is highly versatile. It supports both the continuous monitoring of critical infrastructure and the reliable assessment of hazardous situations directly at the incident site. To ensure reliable operation under extreme conditions, these systems must feature a compact, rugged design and intuitive user interfaces that enable effective use by non-specialist personnel.

Combined with automated data analysis that converts measurement results directly into actionable recommendations, mobile analytical technologies significantly enhance emergency response capabilities and disaster management.