Smart sensors: High-tech for urban trees

How are our urban trees really doing? To answer this question, we are developing innovative sensors, digital analysis tools, and computer models. These technologies allow us to monitor key environmental conditions and tree health data in real time.

The goal is to detect early signs of stress—such as drought or heat exposure—so that cities can implement targeted, resource-efficient interventions that help maintain the health and ecosystem services of urban trees over the long term.

What is measured?

Our energy-autonomous sensors, some of which are co-managed by local university students, are installed directly on the trees and in the soil. They continuously collect the following data:

✅ Environmental factors: air temperature, humidity, solar radiation, soil water content, soil temperature

✅ Tree reactions: Growth and water deficit (microdendrometry)

The Department of Microsystems Engineering at the University of Freiburg, the Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter Institute of Plant Sciences (JKIP) at KIT and the Chair of Forest Growth and Dendroecology at the University of Freiburg are cooperating in this sub-project