TreeSense officially recognized as a research-oriented startup

In its decision dated July 9, 2025, the Research Allowance Certification Authority (BSFZ) confirmed that TreeSense meets the requirements for an independent research company within the meaning of the Research Allowance Act. Our research work, led by Julius Kübler and Moritz Spielvogel, was recognized as an eligible research and development project.

For us, this award is more than just a bureaucratic label—it underscores what TreeSense has been all about from the very beginning: practice-oriented research with a scientific foundation.

Research with substance: measuring drought stress in living trees

The aim of the research project is to develop a sensor that can detect drought stress directly in living tree trunks rather than indirectly via soil moisture or environmental values. The method is based on measuring the electrical impulse resistance in the water-conducting tissue—the lower the water content in the wood, the higher the resistance.

From the outset, compensating for external factors such as ambient temperature, tree species, wood structure, and humidity has been a particular challenge. Only through precise modeling and data-supported correction factors can a tree species-specific moisture index be calculated.

"In order to achieve the objective of the R&D project, it is essential that the influencing factors can be technically compensated for in order to determine tree species-specific moisture indices."
(BSFZ decision, 2025)

The development therefore encompasses not only sensor technology, but also the design of a temperature-compensated interpretation model that converts the complex influencing factors into a practical humidity indicator.

Step by step towards a practical solution

In recent years, we have made a number of technical and scientific advances:

• We tested and optimized various electrode materials to ensure measurement accuracy and durability in trunk wood under real-world conditions. This led to the electrode holder used today, which is continuously being further developed to reduce the amount of maintenance required.

• The sensor unit has been continuously developed with a focus on robust housing technology, low energy consumption, and reliable data transmission. This allows customers to choose individually whether they prefer LoRaWAN or NB-IoT sensors.

• At the same time, a scalable cloud infrastructure was set up, including secure data storage, API interfaces, and visualizable data logic.

• With the help of a specially developed TreeSense moisture index, the measured values are interpreted and converted into an intuitive traffic light logic in order to objectively assess the need for irrigation.

These developments have always been accompanied by our close cooperation with scientific institutions—in particular the Technical University of Munich, Geisenheim University, and the Laimburg Research Center.

Why the BSFZ award is important—for everyone who relies on TreeSense

The BSFZ certification is not only a milestone for us as a development team—it has far-reaching significance for everyone who uses TreeSense or works with us. For our customers in cities and municipalities, the award creates transparency and trust: it proves that TreeSense solutions are based on sound research—and not on marketing promises. In a sensitive field of application such as urban ecology, it is crucial to know that the technology used has been scientifically tested and recognized. At the same time, the BSFZ seal shows that TreeSense not only works in an application-oriented manner, but also actively conducts research at the interface of basic research, experimental development, and practical implementation. We are opening up prospects for new collaborations, joint studies, and research projects that are already in the pipeline.

"It's great to see that our years of research are now being recognized in practice. You can see that we are getting closer to our goals step by step—and doing so with this fantastic team fills me with pride."
— Giancarlo, TreeSense

One step on a long-term journey

The award covers the period up to the end of 2024—in other words, research that we have already successfully conducted and documented. For us, it is a sign that we should continue along this path.

Even though the first version of our technology is already being used successfully, we are only at the beginning of data-based tree physiology, which can take irrigation and care decisions to a whole new level. Our next step is clear: to further refine the existing data models, deepen our understanding of tree species-specific differences, and make moisture assessment even more precise.