Grass-Twin: Digital twin of an artificial grass field using printed electronics

The aim is to develop a digital twin based on the implementation of a system of sensors distributed across the playing fields, which will facilitate detailed and real-time control of vital parameters of the turf such as humidity, adapting irrigation and other care measures to the different areas of the field.

The ultimate goal is to optimize water consumption on artificial turf sports fields, significantly improve the quality and uniformity of the turf, offering optimal playing conditions and thus reducing the risk of injuries. Evolution of the care and maintenance of sports surfaces.

Today, maintaining sports fields, especially those with natural, hybrid or artificial grass surfaces, represents a considerable challenge in terms of resource consumption and optimising playing conditions.

Traditionally, turf maintenance systems are based on fixed and uniform schedules that do not consider microclimatic variations and the specific conditions of different areas of the field. This leads to inefficient use of resources such as water and often results in oversaturation or uneven drying of the turf, affecting its quality and the uniformity of the playing field.

The central problem lies in the lack of advanced technological solutions that allow precise and localised monitoring and control of turf conditions. Conventional methods do not allow irrigation and other care to be adapted to the specific needs of different areas of the field, which can lead to problems such as the formation of fungi due to excessive humidity or deterioration of the turf due to lack of water.

The introduction of the technology to be developed in the GRASS-TWIN SMART GRASS project promises to address these shortcomings by implementing a system of sensors distributed throughout the field that will act as digital twins of the artificial turf (Digital Twins appear in the Trends study carried out in June 2024 by INDESCAT, as mentioned below). This innovative system will allow detailed and real-time control of vital parameters of the turf, such as humidity, adapting irrigation and other care precisely and according to the needs of each specific area of ​​the field. This approach will not only optimize the use of resources, making it more sustainable, but will also significantly improve the quality and uniformity of the artificial turf, offering optimal playing conditions and reducing the risk of injury for athletes, as well as making efficient use of water and very significant savings, vital in the context of current drought and climate change.

The implementation of Grass-Twin in sports fields will represent a revolution and a qualitative leap towards the intelligent and sustainable management of sports facilities, marking a milestone in the evolution of the care and maintenance of sports surfaces.