Smart Urban Trees: Monitoring and improving tree and root performance on city streets

Prof. José Grünzweig and Dr. Nimrod Schwartz

This novel project aims to develop a digital application for mapping and monitoring urban trees and their root systems, with the goal of supporting healthy tree growth in our cities.

Trees are a vital part of the urban landscape and are an essential factor for the well-being of people. Trees provide shade, mitigate the urban “heat island” phenomenon, absorb pollution, and enhance the biodiversity of urban ecosystems.

Urban environments, however, present a challenge to healthy tree growth. In cities, tree root systems are frequently subject to intense conflicts with infrastructure, such as buildings, roads, and utility installations. Damage to roots may considerably impair tree development, reducing the benefits provided by urban trees.

The study will focus on how the success of urban trees is connected to below-surface conditions. It will examine relationships between physical and chemical properties of the soil pit and the functioning of the root system, which often is the first to be damaged. It will test new tools to non-destructively study and monitor roots of city streets, and to link the status of roots to canopy performance. Furthermore, the study will provide insights into tree management using practices to improve root function and survival.

This application will contribute to the sustainability of cities by decreasing tree mortality and infrastructure replacement, thus ultimately reducing costs.

Read more about the project here.