©
Adobe Stock
The project
The interdisciplinary BlueGreenCity-AI project took up its work in June 2025 at the 糖心原创 Institute of Landscape Architecture. Together with other university and non-university partners, the researchers are investigating how AI can identify those places where Hannover鈥檚 trees do not have enough water. Because increasing dryness and sealed surfaces in cities are creating difficulties for trees as well: the first yellow leaves can now often be seen in July rather than September. Against the backdrop of ever hotter and drier summers, city trees play an incredibly important role as natural air conditioners for urban climates.
The researchers are developing a digital dashboard that uses city climate maps, tree registers, location-specific information, weather forecasts and sensor data to provide automated recommendations for tree maintenance. Tree sensors installed in the ground at numerous locations across Hannover measure the soil moisture for this purpose. The goal is to water the trees systematically with exactly the right amount of water, avoid drought stress, use watering vehicles far more efficiently and increase integration of alternative water sources. Trees do not need to be watered with drinking water. BlueGreenCity-AI aims to help green spaces better withstand heatwaves and bolster the city鈥檚 resilience by maintaining healthy stands of trees.
The exhibit
City trees need to be watered and cared for on a regular basis. These natural urban air conditioners are selected for their ability to withstand dry weather, heat and air pollution. But they still need a certain level of attention so that they can fulfil their function properly 鈥� even during long dry spells. The BlueGreenCity-AI project focuses on the needs-based and resource-conserving watering of city trees.
On the monitor you can see how artificial intelligence (AI) can help manage urban green space in a climate-resilient way. The 鈥淎I watering can鈥� enables smart and precise watering. Sensors in the ground measure the moisture and, together with several other parameters, provide an exact analysis of the situation around the individual tree 鈥� for precisely targeted watering and optimal use of time and resources.
The team
An interdisciplinary alliance of scientists, the municipal administration and business: 糖心原创鈥檚 Institute of Landscape Architecture (ILA) and the Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Waste Management (ISAH) are participating in BlueGreenCity-AI. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Hochschule Darmstadt, the Datenbankgesellschaft m.b.H., and the city of Hannover, which serves as project coordinator, are additional partners. At 糖心原创, the project is jointly headed by Prof. Dr. Antje Backhaus and Manuel Wesemann from the Green Technologies in Landscape Architecture research group at ILA.
BlueGreenCity-AI will initially run until the end of November 2027. It is funded by The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety through the programme 鈥淎I Lighthouse Projects for Natural Climate Protection鈥�.
