MIT researchers are working to outfit entire forests with a sensor network, powered by the trees themselves, that could help spot fires earlier and even identify situations that could result in fires. The new sensor system aims to turn trees into a self-sustaining power supply. Each sensor is equipped with an off-the-shelf battery that can be slowly recharged using electricity generated by the tree.

The U.S. Forest Service currently predicts and tracks fires with a variety of tools, including remote automated weather stations. But these stations are expensive and sparsely distributed. Additional sensors could save trees by providing better local climate data to be used in fire prediction models and earlier alerts. The new system aims to provide power to the sensors where traditional recharging or battery replacement is impractical and costly.

- Mass High Tech Staff