Heat stress, drought and stormwater flooding. All terms appropriate to this time of changing climate conditions. This is especially noticeable in the city. Research shows that more greenery in the city provides cooling, among other things. Many municipalities have "the green city" high on the agenda. Planting large numbers of trees is the result.
Trees do not have it easy in the built environment. A good plan around tree planting is therefore important. For example, how do you ensure that young trees do not fall out due to drought? What opportunities does Internet of Things (IoT) offer to help our trees?
Imagine trees being able to "talk" directly to you and tell you what they really need. A nice idea, isn't it? By placing a sensor at the roots of a tree, we can gather information about that tree. OK, it's not literally talking yet. But it comes extremely close.
Our solution consists of a calibrated moisture sensor, which is placed invisibly near the tree. On the online dashboard, the arborist sees a map with all sensor positions and the current status. For example, is the soil too dry? Then he sees an orange or red tree on the map. In one overview, the arborist knows where and when to water. Not too much, not too little: so watering is only done when it is really necessary.
About our moisture sensorsUsing predictive software is another interesting solution. One example is our soil moisture predictor. The software combines all kinds of factors that influence the moisture development of the soil where the tree stands. In addition to moisture measurements, we also include local weather data to arrive at an accurate, real-time prediction of the tree's moisture requirements. With this solution, the arborist knows exactly where to focus attention.
The Internet of Things cannot influence the weather or keep pests away. What it can do, however, is moderate the effect of these external influences. Consider sensors that measure soil moisture, temperature, nutrients, acidity and oxygen levels.
By using Internet of Things, the arborist can see the state of the soil and the tree at any time and, if necessary, make adjustments to ensure the healthiest situation for his trees. The result: economic, ecological and social gains.
The possibilities for automation and making green management smarter are endless; the savings it will bring if anything, even greater.
Marcel Steegh
- CEO & Founder Soilmania
