Munich Startup Treesense Launches IoT Sensors to Monitor Urban Tree Health

Treesense, a spin‑off from the Technical University of Munich, has developed an IoT platform and a proprietary “Treesense Pulse” sensor that measures electrical resistance in a tree’s outer ring to detect drought stress. By attaching two small electrodes to the tree, the system can determine water flow and trigger targeted irrigation only where needed. In a pilot across 21 locations, the technology reduced watering and labor by 74 %, saving municipalities both water and costs—estimated at €5,000 per dead tree replacement in Munich. The startup argues that data‑driven tree care can break the incentive structure that rewards excessive watering, allowing cities to maintain urban greenery more efficiently while cutting expenses.

Treesense aims to shift municipal tree management from fixed schedules to condition‑based care, positioning the sensors as a tool for climate‑adapted urban planning.