Soil Monitoring Study: M.A.P.

      The San Bernardino Mountains are home to unique ecosystems that harbor species found nowhere else on Earth. Climate change threatens these fragile habitats: hotter, drier conditions have fueled more frequent and intense wildfires, repeated burns prevent forests from regenerating, and invasive species spread more easily.

Soil health is the foundation of life in these mountains. Monitoring it can reveal early signs of stress from drought, invasive species, or wildfire damage, enabling timely intervention before fragile habitats collapse. Yet no large-scale soil monitoring system exists here, and cuts to federal conservation funding raise concern about the long-term sustainability of traditional efforts.

     To address this, the Bear Valley Preservation Society has partnered with PamLab Design and Engineering and Running Springs–based 3rd Spaces to design and deploy an open-source, low-cost, and scalable soil monitoring system built and maintained by local residents. This approach empowers communities with continuous soil data to guide reforestation efforts, understand invasive species, and protect endemic species.

Crowdsourced, 

     The Mountain Arduino Preservation (MAP) project equips residents to become citizen scientists, enabling them to build and deploy affordable soil-sensing modules that measure soil temperature and moisture levels. Utilizing Arduino-based platforms and 3D-printed housings, these modules will offer durable, cost-effective monitoring across multiple sites.

     Future phases will include a Citizen Science program, tailoring modules for specialized ecological research, broadening data-sharing methods, and promoting artistic and outreach initiatives.

     For example, the Citizen Science program will focus on resident training, scaling Phase 1 data, and strengthening local capacity through design and fabrication workshops in schools and makerspaces. These workshops, led by a National Geographic Explorer and former MIT educator, offer residents the

opportunity to learn about conservation, design methods, electronics & programming, and digital fabrication. By deploying and maintaining these modules, participants will create a mountain-wide