Articles | Volume 15, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-15-253-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-15-253-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
08 Oct 2026
Research article |
| 08 Oct 2026
| 08 Oct 2026
The ECOSENSE forest: a distributed sensor and data management system for real-time monitoring of ecosystem processes and stresses
Jasmin Tesch
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Chair of Hydrology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79098, Germany
Kathrin Kühnhammer
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Delon Wagner
Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Andreas Christen
Chair of Environmental Meteorology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79085, Germany
Carsten Dormann
Chair of Biometry and Environmental System Analysis, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79106, Germany
Julian Frey
Chair of Forest Growth and Dendroecology, Institute of Forest Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79106, Germany
Rüdiger Grote
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMKIFU), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 82467, Germany
Teja Kattenborn
Chair of Sensor-based Geoinformatics (geosense), Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79106, Germany
Markus Sulzer
Chair of Environmental Meteorology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79085, Germany
Ulrike Wallrabe
Laboratory for Microactuators, Department of Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Markus Weiler
Chair of Hydrology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79098, Germany
Christiane Werner
Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Samaneh Baghbani
Laboratory for Electrical Instrumentation and Embedded Systems – IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Julian Brzozon
Chair of Soil Ecology, Institute of Forest Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79098, Germany
Laura Maria Comella
Institute of Energy Efficient Mobility, Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, Karlsruhe, 76133, Germany
Lea Dedden
Chair of Hydrology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79098, Germany
Stefanie Dumberger
Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Yasmina Frey
Laboratory for Microactuators, Department of Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Matthias Gassilloud
Chair of Sensor-based Geoinformatics (geosense), Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79106, Germany
Timo Gerach
Laboratory for the Design of Microsystems – IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Anna Göritz
Chair of Sensor-based Geoinformatics (geosense), Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79106, Germany
Simon Haberstroh
Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Johannes Klüppel
Laboratory for the Design of Microsystems – IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Luis Kremer
Chair of Sensor-based Geoinformatics (geosense), Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79106, Germany
Jürgen Kreuzwieser
Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Hojin Lee
Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Joachim Maack
Chair of Sensor-based Geoinformatics (geosense), Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79106, Germany
Julian Müller
Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Oswald Prucker
Laboratory for Chemistry & Physics of Interfaces, Department of Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Sanam K. Rajak
Laboratory for Chemistry & Physics of Interfaces, Department of Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Jürgen Rühe
Laboratory for Chemistry & Physics of Interfaces, Department of Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Stefan J. Rupitsch
Laboratory for Electrical Instrumentation and Embedded Systems – IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Helmer Schack-Kirchner
Chair of Soil Ecology, Institute of Forest Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79098, Germany
Christian Scharinger
XR Future Forests Lab, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79106, Germany
Uttunga Shinde
Laboratory for the Design of Microsystems – IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Till Steinmann
Laboratory for Electrical Instrumentation and Embedded Systems – IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Clara Stock
Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
Josef Strack
Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany
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Cited
4 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Technical note: An innovative monitoring approach to measure spatio-temporal throughfall patterns in forests L. Dedden & M. Weiler https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-3245-2026
- Seasonal dynamics and sun/shade heterogeneity of leaf gas exchange and VOC emissions inside a tall temperate forest canopy S. Dumberger et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpag111
- Design of a Chlorophyll Fluorescence Sensor Head for Continuous On-Leaf Measurements J. Klueppel et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.6c03026
- Litter vs. Lens: Evaluating LAI from Litter Traps and Hemispherical Photos Across View Zenith Angles and Leaf Fall Phases S. Lotz et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1949-2026
4 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Technical note: An innovative monitoring approach to measure spatio-temporal throughfall patterns in forests L. Dedden & M. Weiler https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-3245-2026
- Seasonal dynamics and sun/shade heterogeneity of leaf gas exchange and VOC emissions inside a tall temperate forest canopy S. Dumberger et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpag111
- Design of a Chlorophyll Fluorescence Sensor Head for Continuous On-Leaf Measurements J. Klueppel et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.6c03026
- Litter vs. Lens: Evaluating LAI from Litter Traps and Hemispherical Photos Across View Zenith Angles and Leaf Fall Phases S. Lotz et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1949-2026
Latest update: 08 Oct 2026
Short summary
In the ECOSENSE forest, we developed a robust infrastructure for distributed forest sensing. Reliable power supply, stable network connection, and smart data collection systems enable the operation of hundreds of sensors under challenging conditions. By detailing the infrastructure design and implementation, we provide a transferable blueprint for building complex monitoring sites that support high-resolution, long-term ecosystem observations.
In the ECOSENSE forest, we developed a robust infrastructure for distributed forest sensing....
