TreeMMoSys: A low cost sensor network to measure wind-induced tree response

Area of Science:

• Forestry science
• Environmental monitoring
• Biophysics

Background:

• Severe storms have caused unprecedented timber damage in European forests over the last 70 years.
• Understanding tree-wind interactions is crucial for assessing and mitigating storm damage.
• Existing methods for measuring tree response to wind are often costly or impractical for large-scale deployment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate TreeMMoSys, a novel, cost-effective, and portable sensor system for measuring wind-induced reactions of tree aerial parts.
• To provide a scalable solution for monitoring individual or neighboring trees' responses to wind excitation.
• To enhance the understanding of tree mechanics under high-impact airflow conditions.

Main Methods:

• Development of TreeMMoSys, a wireless sensor network comprising lightweight tree response sensors and ground receivers.
• Utilizing WLAN for communication between sensors and receivers.
• Post-processing of acceleration and angular rate data to derive tilt angles, quantifying wind-induced tree movement.

Main Results:

• TreeMMoSys provides accurate and stable measurements of wind-induced reactions in tree branches and stems.
• The system is weatherproof, portable, reusable, and allows for efficient monitoring of multiple trees.
• Demonstrated feasibility for long-term field deployment in diverse forest conditions.

Conclusions:

• TreeMMoSys offers a practical and affordable solution for studying tree-wind dynamics.
• The system can significantly improve the assessment and prediction of storm damage in forests.
• Enables enhanced ecological research on forest resilience and wind disturbance.