Silicon Austria Labs GmbH, Austria
This monitoring system allows forest managers to implement precise, data-driven interventions, minimizing damage and ensuring sustainable forest ecosystems.
Managing forests well means spotting and controlling harmful bugs, like bark beetles, before they do too much damage to trees. These beetles have become a bigger problem because of climate change, making it even more important to act quickly.
Normally, checking for beetles takes a lot of time and effort, and by the time it’s done, the forest may already be badly damaged. To fix this, an innovative smart trap was developed. This trap uses sensors based on additive manufacturing technologies, harvests its own energy, and sends information about the fill level of the trap wirelessly.
Funtionality
The demonstrator showcases how printed sensors integrated in a bark beetle trap are working:
- Instead of bark beetles we will use rice to demonstrate a raising level of bark beetles inside
- When rice (=beetles) will be filled in the trap, the increasing fill level will be indicated by an (printed) LED array for optical demonstration
- In addation an SMS will be send at maximum fill level to a smartphone, which is present at the demonstration, to showcase the wireless data transmission
Benefits of the project
- Early Detection: Enables timely identification of beetle infestations, allowing for rapid response before populations escalate. Continuous monitoring capabilities allow for better tracking of beetle populations over time, leading to improved management practices.
- Data-Driven Insights: Provides real-time data on beetle activity and population dynamics, helping forest managers make informed decisions.
- Targeted Management: Facilitates targeted pest control strategies by identifying specific beetle species and their behavior patterns.
- Cost Efficiency: Early intervention can lead to significant cost savings by preventing widespread tree damage and reducing the need for extensive control measures (site visits of forest managers).
- Support for Research and Conservation: Provides valuable data for researchers studying pest behavior and ecology, contributing to broader conservation efforts.
Target Industry
The targeted industry for a smart bark beetle trap primarily includes forestry and agriculture as well as Internet of Things. These traps are designed to monitor and control bark beetle populations, which can be devastating to trees and forests. They may also have applications in environmental monitoring and pest management for urban landscaping and parks. Additionally, companies involved in ecological research and conservation efforts might find such technology valuable.
Organic & Printed Components
- OLED
- Printed dieelectric / insulator
- Printed sensor
Classical Components
- ESP32 (µC)
- SIM800L (GSM Module)
- Energy Harvesting (battery charging) Solarzellen 30mA/5V (one or two pieces)
- Battery: LiIon: 18650 (one or two pieces)
- Sensor-Electronics (comparator cirquit)
- Housing/Case IP65 (Gainta G256CMF)