Soest connects its trees – Digital sensors for sustainable urban greening
The city of Soest is breaking new ground in the field of digital tree care. Our moisture sensors are being used to optimize the water supply for urban trees. The sensors regularly provide data on the moisture content in the trunk, helping to control irrigation measures more efficiently.
Monitoring tree health with digital data
With around 38,000 trees in Soest, the question arises: How can we ensure that all trees are optimally cared for? Young trees in particular need regular watering in their first few years. But not every tree has the same water requirements—soil conditions, location, and weather conditions have a significant impact on moisture supply.
The new sensors measure the electrical resistance in the wood and provide precise information about the moisture content in the tree. The data collected is forwarded to the Soest municipal utilities team via an app. There, it is visualized in a simple traffic light system.
If the sensors display green values, this means that the tree has sufficient water and does not need to be watered. Orange indicates that moisture levels are falling and the tree should be monitored so that action can be taken in good time. If the system displays red values, there is an acute water shortage and immediate watering is necessary to protect the tree from damage.
Efficient use of resources for sustainable urban maintenance
Thanks to digital monitoring, Soest can irrigate more precisely while saving water, time, and money. The sensors help to plan operations efficiently and deliver water precisely where it is really needed.
"The data tells us exactly which trees need water. This allows us to reduce irrigation trips and take more targeted action," says the team at Kommunalbetriebe Soest.
Especially in the summer months, when temperatures rise and dry periods increase, this technology enables sustainable and forward-looking urban greening.
Scientific findings for urban planning
In addition to acute irrigation control, the sensors also provide valuable long-term data. This helps to understand how moisture fluctuations affect trees and, in conjunction with other environmental factors such as soil conditions or precipitation levels, targeted measures for climate-proof urban greening can be developed.
In the long term, the data could help identify locations with increased drought stress and plant urban trees more sustainably.
A forward-looking project for digital tree care
By using our sensors, Soest is focusing on a modern and data-based form of urban greening. The combination of technological innovation and sustainable urban maintenance shows that ecological responsibility and digital solutions can complement each other perfectly.
The project highlights how digital sensor technology helps to keep urban trees healthy in the long term—an innovation that could also set the trend in other cities in the future.
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