The cable for the sensors is rugged and resistant to damage from the sun and typical weather conditions. However, it is susceptible to damage from rodents, machinery, shovels, and so forth. Running the cable through electrical conduit or PVC pipe will help protect it, but this is not an absolute requirement. In areas where rodent activity is low, direct burial in a trench is usually sufficient. A particularly vulnerable location is where the buried cables exit the ground and enter the enclosure housing the data logger. At that exit point, take steps to protect the cable from damage.