Smart sensors can be deployed to monitor the health of local ecosystems such as air and water quality soil moisture urban heat and native wildlife.

This data can be used to inform decisions related to environmental sustainability and resilience such as identifying areas in need of protection and ongoing monitoring.

Monitoring flying fox habitat

Sensors have been installed at locations across Geelong’s Eastern Park to monitor the habitat and behaviour of the grey-headed flying fox. 

The sensors have been placed in five radiata pine trees to record temperature and humidity patterns across the gardens and between preferred roosting sites.

There is a significant population of grey-headed flying foxes in the park  yet total population numbers are rapidly declining making this important native pollinator a vulnerable species. Loss of habitat and heat-stress are two factors attributed to this decline. 

Understanding how climate change is impacting their behaviour and roosting patterns over time will help to inform protection measures. 

You can view the data via Flying fox habitat on the Geelong Data Exchange.