I-Corps: Monitoring trees for water stress via a smart sensing system

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a sensing system that may provide invaluable and continuous insights into tree health and forest function at both large and small scales. The market for this device will range from individual to industrial scale farmers wishing to tailor automated irrigation systems directly to address when trees (e.g., all varieties of tree nuts, avocado, coffee, fruits, etc.) experience stress or require specific moisture conditions to stimulate flowering or fruiting. Other users may include governments and non-government organizations (NGOs) seeking to manage forested regions to assess the potential for wildfire ignition and spread, as well as scientific instrumentation companies who supply researchers seeking to understand forest responses to climate and disturbances. This I-Corps project is based on the development of a smart-sensing system for the detection of water stress in trees in response to local microclimates. Trees experience water stress at different intensities and time scales that may often be decoupled from soil moisture status. The proposed smart sensing system combines standard meteorological observations with novel measurements of within-tree water flow and content. This system features a tree-water content sensor capable of continuously monitoring water within different layers of a tree’s xylem tissues. Prior field research has shown that xylem tissues that are no longer actively transporting water may still serve as a water reservoir during times of drought for some species. Observations of tree water storage have shown promise in their ability to pinpoint the onset of water stress within a living plant in real time. In addition, data collected by this sensing system may be combined with remote sensing observations to extend predictions from single trees or orchards to entire regions to develop predictions for wildfire ignition potential. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.