“Drone gentlemen” protect 200-year-old trees

Technology at the service of ecology.

In the heart of Stuttgart, Germany, some of the city's oldest trees, alive for almost two centuries, now have very special guardians, smart drones, equipped with sensors and cameras capable of monitoring every sign of climate stress.

The project developed by researchers from the University of Hohenheimer unites cutting-edge technology and ecology to preserve the natural heritage of the historic local gardens. Informally baptized as Caballeros Drones, the system performs weekly flights over the treetops, capturing thermal and multi-spectral images that reveal changes to the human eye, from humidity variations to early signs of lack of water.

Technology did not act alone

This information allows irrigation to be adjusted with great precision, guaranteeing that each tree receives only what it really needs. The technology did not act alone, around 100 sensors were necessary manually installed on the crowns by professional climbers, measuring temperature, sap flow and soil humidity.

The data is integrated into the drone's central analysis system, creating a three-dimensional model of the health of each tree. In addition to reducing water waste, the project helps understand how trees react to environmental stress in real time, which could become a reference model in other European cities.

The system also follows strict safety protocols, each flight is operated by licensed pilots and the drone has redundant propulsion and battery mechanisms to avoid accidents.