According to the National Interagency Fire Center statistics, in 2023, there were around 53,685 fires that burned 2.61 million acres. And witnessing such devastating situations, ePlant decided to invent something that can help monitor the plant’s health and conditions. ePlant’s AI-based TreeTags monitors plant growth and provides real-time data on growth, water intake, and more, revolutionizing plant data collection. It is easy to install and has a lifespan of 10 years.
In August, after devastating wildfires swept through Maui, ePlant’s team took action by installing 15 TreeTags on the Lahaina region’s largest banyan tree, which had been badly damaged. These TreeTags, equipped with sensors and AI, penetrate the trunk to monitor growth, water and light intake, carbon capture, and store the data in the cloud. Graham Hine, co-founder and CEO, said, “Trees have their own unique way of communicating, and our sensors are like their translators.” The valuable information provided by these sensors will benefit anyone with trees in their yard, helping them maintain their trees’ health and well-being.
The innovative TreeTag by ePlant is revolutionizing plant data collection and application. This highly cost-effective and easy-to-install system allows for mass real-time collection of growth, irrigation, stress, and environmental data, all wirelessly delivered to any location.
TreeTags, sensors for trees, offer a remarkable solution, requiring minimal effort to maintain while having an estimated lifespan of 10 years. They revolutionized the way researchers, growers, and other tree care experts access highly detailed, plant-related data on a scale that was previously unattainable.
During the installation process, the ePlant app activates the TreeTags during the process. Additionally, it enables the user to effortlessly monitor the latest sensor measurements and conveniently halt data collection.
About Treetags – AI-powered Tree Growth Monitor
The ePlant TreeTag is a small wireless device that helps you monitor trees or vines from anywhere in the world. It is lightweight, measuring 3.5 inches in length, and can be easily attached to a tree or vine. Onboard sensors are equipped to provide an array of valuable measurements. These include the following:
- A dendrometer, to accurately measure the radial increment of the xylem and phloem. This measurement is an excellent indicator of both water status and growth.
- An accelerometer with a remarkable resolution of <0.1°, enabling the detection of even the slightest trunk lean.
- A light sensor, thermometer, and hygrometer for capturing highly precise information about the local environment conditions.
Also See: How to Fix Solar Light Sensor
1. Connectivity
An ePlant gateway can provide LoRaWAN connectivity for ePlant TreeTags, either indoors or outdoors. It needs power and an internet connection, which can be through Ethernet or cellular networks.
2. Transmits and Store Tree Growth Data in Cloud
TreeTags connect to ePlant cloud via low power 900MHz radio up to 3 miles with data storage for one year and FUOTA capability. Sensor data is transmitted every 5 minutes and uplinked every 20 minutes through a single gateway.
The TreeTag seamlessly transmits data wirelessly to an internet gateway situated several miles away, ensuring that users have access to the information almost instantaneously. Notably, the device is ingeniously powered by an onboard solar panel and hybrid capacitor, gracefully overcoming any challenges posed by a dense canopy.
3. Monitor Tree Growth
ePlant’s AI-based TreeTags monitors plant growth and response to its surroundings. The data can help understand water stress, growth, and vigor. It also has sensors for measuring light, humidity, temperature, and tilt from vertical.
4. Data Portal
With the Data Portal, you have the power to effortlessly access a comprehensive list of your plants and TreeTags. It also offers the following:
- Easy retrieval of sensor data from one or multiple sources within a specific timeframe.
- Enables data analyzation from Sensors 1, 3, and 7 spanning the past 10 days. All this data is readily available for you to download, allowing for seamless visualization and meaningful comparisons.
- It allows grouping of plants and monitors the connectivity and battery strength, which can provide a timestamp of the previous reported data.
5. Installing and Mounting
It is quite easy to install and mount these TreeTags.
Installation Process
You can use a #28 or 9/64 drill bit to create a 1.5-inch-deep hole. Drill at the right angle to the tree surface. Clear the chips and keep the hole clean. Secure the mounting screw, making sure it is slightly below the outer bark. Clean the area where the plunger will make contact. Attach the tree tag to the screw using a 1/4″ nut driver, applying only a small amount of force. Use a hand tool to avoid overtightening.
Mounting Process
When mounting the branch signal, consider the impact of the canopy downstream. Ensure the branch and canopy are the same. Mounting the trunk will fully incorporate the canopy’s impacts. Minimal preparation for thin-barked trees, remove loose debris. For thick-barked trees, remove some dead bark without hurting the phloem.
Also See: 5 Types of Solar PV Modules Mounting Structure
Charging the Tags
ePlant launches Tree Sensors that can be fully charged without direct sunlight, and it is preferred to mount them on the north side (Northern Hemisphere). This is to minimize direct sunlight exposure on the sensor. Direct sunlight can make the temperature sensor read higher than the actual ambient temperature.
ePlant’s AI-based TreeTags monitor plant growth, and you can access everything through cloud computing. This is an innovative yet eco-friendly innovation which is why it is listed as the most influential invention of 2023.
About ePlant
ePlant’s team of experienced engineers and scientists are deeply committed to uncovering valuable insights through the creation of innovative sensing platforms. Their collective motivation led to the establishment of ePlant, with the goal of transforming the collection, comprehension, and utilization of plant data on a major scale. The real-time data is sent to the cloud for storage and analysis, supporting various applications in agriculture, forestry, government, and consumer spaces.
About the Founder
Graham Hine, the co-founder and CEO of the company, has many years of experience in developing innovative sensing platforms and robotics. He is highly knowledgeable in managing and operating companies, with a successful track record of building them from scratch. Before his current role, Graham served as the CEO of Liquid Robotics, which was acquired by the Boeing Company.
Joseph Rizzi, Co-founder, Chairman of the Board in ePlant, was a co-founder and chairman at Matrix Partners LLP, a venture capital firm in Silicon Valley. During his time there, he helped start and was on the board of many companies, large and small. He also started and managed several companies in Silicon Valley.
