Project: Trees in Cities Challenge

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For the first time in history, over half of the world's population lives in cities, and by 2050, two-thirds could reside in urban areas. Cities are major contributors to climate change and simultaneously highly vulnerable to its impacts such as flooding and heat stress. Nature-based solutions like urban trees and forests are crucial for adapting to climate change.

That's why the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) launched the "Trees in Cities Challenge". This initiative invites mayors and local governments worldwide to commit to tree planting and set goals for making their cities greener, more resilient, and sustainable.

By monitoring soil moisture and temperature profiles, cities can ensure the health and resilience of urban trees. Sensors like our DL-SMTP | Soil Moisture and Temperature Profile for LoRaWAN® can be effectively used to accurately measure and monitor such soil conditions. This enables optimal irrigation and thus improves the tree's growth and cooling performance while minimizing maintenance.

Read more about "Trees in Cities Challenge"

Realtime demo of DL-SMTP

Upcoming Event

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Next month, we're excited to be exhibiting at the IoT Solutions World Congress in Barcelona from May 21th to 23nd!

This congress is a major event that brings together professionals, innovators and enthusiasts from around the world in the field of the Internet of Things. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with industry leaders and discover the endless possibilities of IoT innovation. Visit our booth to engage in exciting discussions and discover our innovative solutions. We look forward to seeing you there!

More about the event

New product - DL-SDD | Soil Moisture, Temperature and Salinity Profile

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DL-SDD | Soil Moisture, Temperature and Salinity Profile for LoRaWAN®

Decentlab's sensor for measuring: 

SOIL MOISTURE
Range: 0 ... 100 % volumetric water content (VWC)
Resolution: 0.01 %
Accuracy: ±0.03 %

SOIL TEMPERATURE
Range: -20 ... 60 °C
Resolution: ±0.01°C
Accuracy: ±2.0 °C at 25 °C

SALINITY
Range: 0 ... 8000 volumetric ion content (VIC)

Applications:

  • Outdoor remote monitoring

  • Irrigation control in tree farms

  • Smart agriculture

  • Parks

Datasheet

Urban Heat: Importance of Trees and Environmental Sensors

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With spring around the corner, the issue of heat in our cities becomes particularly relevant once again. Over the next few months, we will focus more on this topic in our monthly newsletter.

In this article, we take a closer look at the importance of trees, as outlined in an informative report by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU). Trees are crucial not only in forests but also in urban and agricultural areas. They improve air quality, sequester CO2, and regulate temperature. They are also essential for the well-being of residents and play a central role in combating heat islands. They provide habitat for a wide range of animal and plant species, and contribute significantly to biodiversity.

In agriculture, trees help improve the carbon balance and increase the resilience of landscapes and crops. Agroforestry systems also provide economic benefits by reducing the risk of crop failure due to heat waves and droughts.

Despite challenges such as space constraints and administrative hurdles, creative solutions such as greening buildings and integrating agroforestry systems are gaining importance.

By using environmental sensors such as DL-SMTP, DL-SHT35, DL-ATM41, DL-LP8P or DL-PM, we can better understand these effects and take targeted measures to make our cities more livable.

Read full article in German, French, Italian

Water Management: Researching the Spread of Drought

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Climate change is leading to more frequent droughts, which can affect water management, such as agriculture. Our customer and partner WSL/SLF analyzed data from 70 river catchment areas to understand how drought simultaneously influences river levels and groundwater levels.

They examined whether precipitation deficits lead to runoff deficits and ultimately groundwater deficits, with a focus on spatial extent. Their study found that 30 percent of precipitation deficits lead to low river levels, which in turn have a negative impact on groundwater in 40 percent of cases. The expectation that droughts would become more widespread with increasing duration did not hold true for groundwater, which surprised the researchers. This can be explained by differences in soil structure. In addition, aquifers can store large amounts of water. Even when rivers dry up, neighboring groundwater reservoirs may still be partially filled.

Sensors such as Decentlab's DL-MBX, DL-PR26 and DL-PR36 can be effectively used for water management such as river and groundwater levels.

Read full article

Leveraging Decentlab Sensors for Vineyard Management

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Producing fine wines requires not only craftsmanship but also the right environment for the vines to thrive. Pfalzwerke has integrated Decentlab sensors into its customers' vineyards and produced an informative video report about it.

Decentlab's cost-efficient and energy-efficient sensors, such as the DL-LWS Leaf Wetness Sensor for LoRaWAN, the DL-LP8P CO₂, Temperature, Humidity and Barometric Pressure Sensor for LoRaWAN and the DL-SMTP Soil Moisture and Temperature Profile for LoRaWAN, capture important environmental data like temperature, soil moisture, air humidity, and air pressure.

The DL-LWS sensor is designed to mimic the behavior of a real leaf, allowing moisture to condense and evaporate as it would on a natural leaf surface. It detects leaf wetness using a capacitive measurement principle. All this information is highly advantageous for winemakers, as it allows for prediction when the onset of certain diseases or infections may occur.

For more insights, watch Pfalzwerke's informative video. 

What exactly is LoRaWAN?

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LoRaWAN, short for Long Range Wide Area Network, enables efficient data transmission over long distances and through buildings. With LoRaWAN, hundreds of sensors within a network can be managed, and sensor data can be transmitted for up to 10 years without battery replacement.

A LoRaWAN network consists of three main components: a sensor device, a gateway, and a LoRa server. The sensor device sends data via LoRa to all gateways in its vicinity. These gateways receive the data and forward it to the server. From there, the data can be processed, visualized, and stored individually.

LoRaWAN offers many advantages compared to other wireless technologies. It has a high range of up to 15 kilometers outdoors and 2 kilometers in urban areas. Additionally, it can easily penetrate walls and floors.

It is the ideal technology for applications in the field of smart buildings, smart cities, agriculture and environmental monitoring.

More about Decentlab & LoRaWAN

Climate change and permafrost

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The permafrost in the Alps is warming rapidly, at a rate of about one degree per decade, as detailed in an article by our client, the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, SLF. This change has a direct impact on people and the economy. In high alpine regions with permafrost, there is an increased risk of rockslides and avalanches, which pose a threat to mountain enthusiasts, settlements and infrastructure such as mountain railways, masts, restaurants and more.

Over the past 27 years, researchers at the Institute have collected extensive data from 30 boreholes throughout the Swiss Alps. This data clearly shows a long-term trend of rising permafrost temperatures approaching the zero degree mark.

The observed changes in permafrost serve as another alarm signal of climate change, requiring heightened attention and action. Sensors such as our DL-TP | Temperature Profile for LoRaWAN can be effectively used to measure permafrost.

Read full article

Optimizing wood heating: Eco-Friendly practices

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Wood heating systems are often praised as an environmentally friendly choice, but their benefits depend on proper use. Negligent operation can result in smoke emissions and environmental pollution. A comprehensive dossier from the Federal Office for the Environment - FOEN (BAFU) provides valuable insights into the environmentally responsible use of wood heating systems.

Throughout the winter, wood heating systems play a significant role in particulate matter pollution. Despite this, they remain popular due to their lower CO2 emissions compared to oil and gas alternatives. However, burning wood exacerbates air pollution with pollutants such as particulate matter. Following basic wood-burning practices can mitigate these harmful effects on air quality. Environmentally sound operation of wood heating systems requires compliance with regulations, regular maintenance, proper operation, and the use of appropriate fuels.

Sensors like DL-PM | Particulate Matter, Temperature, Humidity and Barometric Pressure Sensor for LoRaWAN® provide accurate measurements of particulate matter. Sensors such as the DL-IAM | Indoor Ambiance Monitor including CO₂, TVOC and Motion Sensor for LoRaWAN® help monitor indoor temperature, comfort and indoor air quality.

Read full article in german, french, italian

Collaboration between Loriot Verso, Datacake and Decentlab

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The July newsletter featured Gunter Schobesberger with Loriot Verso's project, 'Forest Fire Risk Assessment in Salzburg', which aims to detect forest fire risks early through environmental sensor monitoring.

Datacake, our partner, has provided a detailed report on the interfaces involved in this project. Datacake collaborates with Ecosensors and Decentlab by offering innovative solutions for collecting and processing environmental data. As a project partner, Datacake facilitates the integration of sensor information into a user-friendly platform. 

The dashboards are user-friendly and configurations are customizable, making it easy for stakeholders like forest owners, managers, and emergency response decision-makers to access relevant information. The platform increases the efficiency of data analysis and reduces response times to potential environmental hazards.

The collaboration between Ecosensors, Decentlab, and Datacake provides a comprehensive solution for detecting and preventing forest fires and other environmental hazards. Ecosensors' environmental monitoring expertise, Decentlab's precise sensors, and Datacake's platform integration combine to create a holistic approach.

Thanks Datacake for the great article.

Field testing of DL-PR21

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Our latest newsletter extensively covered the EU-funded DiVES project at the Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius, in collaboration with the University of Jyväskylä. The project aims to explore the advantages of automated measurement methods compared to manual field measurements. As part of the project, Decentlab's DL-PR26 & DL-PR36 sensors underwent comprehensive testing. Furthermore, the DL-PR21 | Pressure / Liquid Level and Temperature Sensor with G1/4'' Pipe Thread for LoRaWAN was recently tested, leading to significant insights.

The development of IoT technology enables the integration of monitoring devices into water production facilities. LoRaWAN-based devices, such as the DL-PR21, offer system-independent capabilities for flexible data collection.

The DiVES project focuses on pressure monitoring at the Veteli waterworks using the DL-PR21 sensor. The sensor transmits water temperature, pressure, and battery voltage every 10 minutes. Measurement intervals can be adjusted remotely via the LoRa network.

The data is sent through a LoRa connection to the project's network server, which then directs the information to the DiVES platform. Visualizations and alarms based on predefined limits are generated, enhancing monitoring efficiency and providing valuable insights for operators. This represents a significant step toward smarter and more effective water infrastructure!

Thanks to cinetcampus for the great work!

Read more about field test of DL-PR21.

New Year Pollution Awareness

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As we approach the year-end, it's important to note that the upcoming New Year's Eve celebrations often come with an increase in fine dust pollution. The dazzling fireworks, while beautiful, contribute to the highest levels of particulate matter for the entire year.

Our DL-PM sensor allows us to measure real-time data, including particulate matter, temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. This graphic clearly depicts peaks on December 31st each year. This year, once again, we'll be utilizing this sensor to precisely document the impact of the New Year's Eve festivities in 2023/2024.

Stay tuned for the results, which we'll be unveiling in our January newsletter! In the meantime, you can check out our current measurements on our realtime demo website. 

Impressions from AGU23 in San Francisco

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Decentlab at AGU23 in San Francisco!
The AGU23 stands as one of the biggest conferences in the field of geosciences globally.

This significant event provided us with the opportunity to collaborate with leading experts, showcase innovative technologies, and gain insights into the latest developments in geosciences. 

At AGU23, participants immersed themselves in a diverse array of presentations, discussions, and workshops covering topics such as climate science, environmental monitoring, geophysics, and planetary sciences.

The conference served as a hub for groundbreaking research findings, fostering collaborations, and tracking emerging trends.

Our participation not only facilitated valuable discussions but also allowed us to present our latest solutions.

Here are some snapshots from our exciting journey at AGU23. Thanks to AGU and everyone who was part of this event!

For additional insights, engaging discussions, and more impressions, you can also tune in to AGU TV.

Decentlab's new device - DL-SDD

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DL-SDD | Soil Moisture, Temperature and Salinity Profile for LoRaWAN®

Decentlab's new device is designed for precise measurements for: 

  • Outdoor remote monitoring

  • Irrigation control

  • Smart agriculture

  • Greenhouse and soil-less plantations

  • Parks

  • Golf courses

Subsurface probe measures soil moisture, temperature and salinity at 3/30 cm, 6/60 cm, 9/90 cm or 12/120 cm levels of depth.

SOIL MOISTURE
Range: 0 ... 100 % volumetric water content (VWC)
Resolution: 0.01 %
Accuracy: ±0.03 %

SOIL TEMPERATURE
Range: -20 ... 60 °C
Accuracy: ±2.0 °C at 25 °C
Note: Inaccuracy can be higher under moderate-to-high solar radiation.
Resolution: ±0.01°C

SALINITY
Range: 0 ... 8000 volumetric ion content (VIC)

More information and full datasheet

Our next event in San Francisco

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Next month, we have an exciting event on our calendar! Decentlab will be participating in the AGU Conference in San Francisco from December 11th to 15th.

The AGU (American Geophysical Union) is a globally renowned event that brings together leading scientists, researchers, and professionals from various fields of the geosciences. This conference provides a platform for the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and discoveries in the realm of the geosciences.

We are thrilled to be a part of this event, where we will showcase our latest developments and innovations in environmental monitoring. It's a great opportunity to gain insights into the latest trends and advancements in the geosciences and to connect with professionals from around the world.

If you're also attending the AGUConference, please visit our booth! We look forward to meeting you there and engaging in exciting discussions about the future of environmental monitoring.

DL-PR26 & DL-PR36 field testing in Finland

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An exciting field test with Decentlab's DL-PR26 and DL-PR36 Sensors in Finland!

In the EU-funded DiVes project at the Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius, affiliated with the University of Jyväskylä, the DL-PR26 sensor is undergoing initial testing. It remotely monitors water levels, tank capacities, and more with precision, even at depths of up to ten meters.

In contrast, the DL-PR36 employs RS-485 bus technology and allows for impressive measurement depths of up to 300 meters. The DL-PR36 is currently being tested in a 20-meter deep groundwater level well in Veteli.

Both devices utilize LoRaWAN technology for data transmission, enabling highly energy-efficient data transfer and extending the battery life of groundwater sensors to several years.

The primary goal of the pilot project is to explore the benefits of automated measurement methods compared to manual field measurements. Real-time monitoring of the results is conducted through the project's data platform. The project aims to identify concrete savings and efficiency improvements that water supply companies, for example, can achieve through the implementation of automatic monitoring technologies.

Read more about field test of DL-PR26 and field test of DL-PR36.

Decentlab's DL-LP8P demonstrates longevity non-stop

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For the past 7 years, this DL-LP8P has been securely attached to a balcony in Zurich, fixed to a rainwater downpipe. It has consistently provided valuable measurement data without a single battery replacement. The picture with the dashboard effectively showcases the measurement data from 2017 to 2023.

The reliable DL-LP8P Sensor is housed in a robust, weatherproof enclosure crafted from UV- and impact-resistant polycarbonate, enabling effortless placement and measurement without the need for intricate setup. Throughout its operational duration, it has reliably transmitted data over LoRaWAN on CO₂ levels, temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure.

With its versatile features and extended battery life utilizing standard alkaline (C-type) batteries, the DL-LP8P is ideally suited for a wide range of environmental monitoring applications. These include monitoring goods and storage conditions, assessing indoor and outdoor air quality, facilitating building automation, supporting energy-saving initiatives, and enhancing smart agriculture practices. 

High resolution picture and plots

The Smart City Expo World Congress was a great success

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Our time at the Smart City Expo in Barcelona was very exciting, interesting, and educational!

We had the chance to showcase our latest products and had some fantastic discussions with customers for smart cities, authorities and partners. It was truly inspiring, and we're grateful for the valuable insights we gained.

Thanks to everyone who visited us and the organizers for a fantastic event!

Decentlab's NEW product

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DL-CWS | High-Precision Winter Road Maintenance Sensor for LoRaWAN®

Introducing the DL-CWS, a high-precision measuring device by Decentlab designed to reliably capture essential environmental data for effective road management.

Key Applications:

  • Frost warning and alerting

  • Outdoor remote monitoring

  • Road weather information systems (RWIS)

  • Winter road maintenance

Measurements:

  • Road-surface temperature

  • Air temperature

  • Relative humidity

  • Dew point temperature (calculated)

Remote outdoor monitoring
In addition to road surface temperature, the DL-CWS also measures
air temperature and relative humidity, providing comprehensive environmental data for road monitoring.

Dew point temperature calculation
The sensor calculates the dew point temperature, which is a critical parameter for understanding moisture conditions and potential road icing.

Weatherproof Housing
The robust polycarbonate housing, which is known for its weatherproof, shockproof and UV-resistant properties, ensures the durability of the sensor in harsh outdoor conditions.

Long-term monitoring
Enables continuous real-time monitoring over extended periods of time without the need to change the battery.

For more detailed information, please refer to the datasheet.