Munich to Implement AI for Smart Tree Watering in Pedestrian Zones
Munich, Germany – March 6, 2026 – The city of Munich is embarking on an ambitious project to plant over 150 new trees in its pedestrian zone, aiming to cool the city during hot summers. With an estimated cost of up to 100,000 euros per tree, the total investment for this initiative is projected to be between 1.8 and 2.3 million euros. The significant expense is primarily attributed to planning, excavation, backfilling, and the installation of new pipes and conduits to prevent conflicts with the growing root systems.
Daniel Trauth, CEO of dataMatters, a smart-city company, emphasizes the critical need for meticulous water supply given the substantial costs involved. He proposes the implementation of an urban irrigation system powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize water usage.
Protecting Trees with AI: The “Urban Tree Intelligence” Concept
“The goal is to protect the trees from drying out during hot summers without wasting too much water,” explains Trauth. His company has developed an urban irrigation system that allows trees to communicate their water requirements via radio. This innovative approach enables the city to implement targeted watering routes, moving away from indiscriminate irrigation.
The concept, dubbed “Urban Tree Intelligence,” has already been successfully deployed by dataMatters in several cities across North Rhine-Westphalia. The technical foundation of this system is the urbanOS smart-city operating system.
Sensors, Radio Connectivity, and AI Personalities for Trees
To facilitate communication, the trees will be equipped with sensors manufactured in Munich. These sensors will measure moisture levels in the xylem – the tissue responsible for transporting water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves. The collected data will be transmitted wirelessly to an urban data space and analyzed by AI within the urbanOS data center.
To avoid equipping every single tree with a sensor, dataMatters has developed an AI model that assigns “personality traits” to trees. These “tree personalities” are based on factors such as species, location, soil profile, sun exposure, and other environmental elements. This allows for accurate prediction of water needs for trees with similar personalities, even if only a fraction of them are sensor-equipped.
“Ideally, young trees should be fitted with sensors from the outset to ensure optimal growth through optimized irrigation using Urban Tree Intelligence,” states Daniel Trauth. The AI not only evaluates current sensor readings but also incorporates weather forecasts. If rain is predicted soon, immediate watering can be avoided. Additionally, soil moisture and soil composition data are fed into the urban operating system to ensure the most efficient and resource-saving care for the city’s greenery. At the push of a button, the AI generates optimized route plans for irrigation vehicles. “This protects Munich’s environment and personnel resources alike,” says dataMatters.
Cities as Climate Change Hotspots: The Role of Urban Trees
For dataMatters, “Urban Tree Intelligence” is an integral part of a comprehensive Smart City concept built upon urbanOS. Trauth elaborates on the broader context: “Cities are hotspots of climate change. They consume approximately 80 percent of the world’s energy, are responsible for over 70 percent of CO2 emissions – and simultaneously suffer most from the consequences: heatwaves, poor air quality, overheated public spaces, and a diminishing quality of life. In this context, urban trees, like those planned for Munich, are far more than just green scenery. They are natural air conditioners, CO2 storage units, and habitats all in one.”
A single, mature deciduous tree can transpire up to 400 liters of water on a hot summer day, providing a cooling effect that significantly lowers ambient temperatures. Simultaneously, a tree sequesters several tons of CO2 over its lifetime, filters fine dust, and offers shade over an area exceeding 150 square meters. “A tree only functions if it is healthy,” says Trauth. He continues, “And this is precisely what presents not only the city of Munich with a hitherto almost insoluble task. In Munich, a total of around 230,000 trees in public spaces must be specifically watered during dry periods – but precise information is often lacking. Which tree really needs how much water and when? Typically, blanket watering routes are driven. This means too much water in places where it is not needed – and too little where it is urgently required.”
