The pets vs cattle analogy is often used to explain cloud computing and modern datacenters. If a server is unique, loaded with important data, fitted out with special peripherals or computing, or otherwise special then we end up treating it like a pet. It is carefully monitored and if something goes wrong we swing into action to repair it and restore it to service. By contrast, datacenter servers are cattle. If something goes wrong with a server its workload gets shifted to one of the other servers while the original is slated for replacement.

Right now, most instruments used for analysis of carbon in soils are treated like pets. They are expensive, they require skilled operators, they utilize radioactive components, and other factors which cause them to be either confined to a lab with soil samples brought to them, or to always be accompanied by trained technicians.

We’re working to make sensors and instruments which can be treated like cattle rather than pets. Inexpensive, replaceable, and performing the raw measurements in the field with analysis in the cloud, these devices can be shipped wherever they need to be and can provide measurements at much more frequent intervals at much lower costs.