Preparing the Netherlands for the effects of climate change

The Smart Sensor Systems research group of The Hague University of Applied Sciences contributes to the Climate Adaptation Knowledge Programme of the Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Management. After the development of a sensor measuring system for recognising plant species at high speed, it is now the turn of the trees along the main (water)ways, also known as standing timber. 

Motive

The Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Management is responsible for maintaining standing timber along the main road/water ways network and wants to know what the consequences of climate change are for the trees in the roadside verges. Extreme drought and heavy rainfall affect the health and stability of trees. The Smart Sensor Systems research group, part of the Centre of Expertise Digital Operations & Finance of The Hague University of Applied Sciences primarily maps the species, height and thickness of the trunk, the health status of trees and the risks of dangerous road situations. The Spatial Transformations – Water research group of Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen focuses mainly on water quantity and quality. For this project, universities of applied sciences are joining forces.

Objective 

The project's objective is to evaluate the (diversity of the) standing timber, map the maintenance status and thus minimise the risk of falling trees or branches. The Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Management has ample tree data, but this information is scattered across various studies and maps or is sometimes missing completely. The Smart Sensor Systems research Unit can combine existing data and focuses on the design and development of a measuring platform to scan the roadsides, as well as on processing and sharing the measurement results. The ultimate objective is prevention and prediction of health status in combination with climate (heat and water) for green management. After all, prevention is better and cheaper than cure or repair.

Research

The Hague University of Applied Sciences investigates whether tree species and dimensions can be measured and stored in a geographic database at a speed of 80 kilometres per hour. Next, they want to detect and record the health status of a tree. Based on this measured data, existing statistics and environmental variables, such as wind speed and groundwater level, predictions can be made about risks, including the danger of falling trees. 

Expected results

The realisation of a camera measuring system that enables the Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Management to take high-speed images of trees along main roads/waterways. These images provide information about the species, dimensions and ultimately the health of each tree. This information enables ecologists to act proactively and better predict risks. 

Collaboration partners 

Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Climate Adaptation research group 

Duration of the project 

January 2024 to July 2027

Involved higher professional education (hbo) degree programmes

The degree programmes in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Applied Physics and Applied Data Science.

Funding 

This project is funded by RWS 2025 Knowledge Impulse Climate Adaptation.

Team 

• dr. John Bolte, professor Smart Sensor Systems en director of the Centre of Expertise Digital Operations & Finance
• Bas van Driel, PhD-student Data Science
• dr. Amey Vasulkar, AI en Data Science expert
• dr. Fernando Garcia Fernandez, associate professor of the university Carlos III in Madrid
• dr. Hanno Hildmann, external researcher TNO