The rise in global temperatures has led to warmer cities, and in Germany, this has resulted in the loss of natural sites and made the upkeep of green spaces more challenging.
Urban trees, in particular, often suffer from improper watering—either too late, too much, or not enough—causing them to die prematurely. A new Internet of Things (IoT) project speared by Vodafone Germany aims to utilise connected technology to maintain healthy trees more effectively while reducing water waste, CO2 emissions, and costs.
Weather detection sensors
In Erlangen, Vodafone Germany has collaborated with the plant cultivation start-up Agvolution, part of the Vodafone UPLIFT programme, and Friedrich-Alexander University to develop sensors that monitor soil humidity and temperature. These sensors, placed 60 centimetres underground, provide real-time data on the city’s trees. Sixteen weather stations have also been established to monitor air temperature, humidity, air pressure, and precipitation.
To ensure accurate and consistent data collection, the data is transmitted via a local city network. Additionally, Vodafone has activated a Narrowband IoT network to support data transmission from distant areas of the city.
Learning from Digital Twins
The sensor data allows Agvolution to create ‘digital twins’ of the monitored trees. Digital twins enable real-time monitoring of physical assets or processes, allowing users to predict behaviour or plan maintenance. In this case, the digital twins provide a virtual understanding of how the trees will respond to moisture levels indicated by the sensors. This enables the city to prioritise tree care and adjust watering levels accordingly.
This data is particularly crucial during dry seasons, as proper watering cycles are essential for maintaining healthy trees.
Greener cities for the future
The trial, which began in February 2023, is set to conclude in September 2024. The findings have improved the planning and organisation of tree watering in summer, and the project is expected to save around 250 cubic metres of water in Erlangen. Preserving existing trees will also prevent the need to plant 20 new trees, approximately 70% of the usual replacements necessitated by drought.
Other areas in Germany, including Pirmasens, Bamberg, Hannover, Berlin, Potsdam, and Garbsen, are now following Erlangen’s lead. These cities are working with Agvolution and Vodafone to install sensor networks to monitor their local greenery.
There’s plenty of other editorial on our sister site, Electronic Specifier! Or you can always join in the conversation by commenting below or visiting our LinkedIn page.
