The Digital Nose project uses AI to detect stress-induced volatile organic compounds from trees and insect pheromones, combined with image data of typical damage patterns, to develop an early warning system for tree diseases, enabling climate-smart forestry and timely reactions to climate stress in forests.
Name in original language
DigiNase
Initiative overview
The Digital Nose project tackles a core forestry challenge: early, non-invasive detection of tree stress and pest outbreaks. Its goal is to build an AI-enabled early-warning system that helps forest managers react sooner to drought, disease, and insect attacks—key for climate-smart forestry.
How it works: sensors capture stress-related volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from trees and insect pheromones, while imaging records typical damage patterns. AI models fuse these signals to flag emerging problems before they become visible at scale, with the goal of enabling targeted interventions and reducing losses.
Name of responsible organisation (in English)
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
Mechanisms to involve stakeholders in strategy design, implementation or monitoring
Don't know
