mm-lab GmbH

The explosive issues of climate change, CO2 emissions, water scarcity and a shortage of skilled workers are making the efficient and resource-saving irrigation of urban green spaces increasingly urgent. However, conventional approaches are often too rigid to adapt flexibly to the given conditions. This is where mm-lab GmbH comes in with its innovative mobile irrigation system SMUPI (Smart Mobile Urban Plant Irrigation), now known as smart KOMPAKT for urban green irrigation.

SMUPI combines weather and sensor data to measure soil moisture at specific tree or planting locations in order to accurately calculate the optimum watering quantity for each tree. The telematics solution guides the drivers of watering vehicles to their destinations in a route- and time-optimized manner using mobile devices. The system controls the precise watering per tree and green area. The watering computer developed by mm-lab regulates the quantity and flow of water. At the same time, the irrigation is digitally documented in a database with precise localization. Planning staff are always informed about current conditions. Watering routes are permanently and dynamically optimized, taking into account past rainfall data, upcoming weather forecasts and the water available to the plants, which is measured by the soil sensors.

Manual adjustments are also possible. The smart city platform allows the system to be used as a solution for multiple tasks. This results from the combination with other municipal tasks such as tree and playground monitoring, gully cleaning, waste disposal, waste management, green space maintenance, street cleaning and winter services.

With SMUPI, municipal operations benefit from automated, on-demand irrigation that reduces working time, fuel and water consumption to a minimum. Compared to conventional systems, SMUPI not only offers precise planning and traceability, but also ensures a more sustainable use of resources.

Awards for the SMUPI innovation

mm-lab was honored for the innovation SMUPI in June 2024 by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection for the funded ZIM project (Central Innovation Program for SMEs) as ZIM individual project of the year 2024. However, this was not the only award. Back in November 2022, mm-lab received the prize for Business Idea of the Year at the TASPO Awards for its green telematics solution, and in September 2024 it was awarded the GaLaBau Innovation Medal.

Added value of the approach

• Sustainable: Optimal irrigation of urban greenery contributes to improving the microclimate, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for municipal vehicles are reduced to the necessary minimum during watering

• Flexibility: Automatically determine water requirement per tree and adjust manually: Takes into account special features of the plants, such as species, age, location

• Conserve resources: Preservation of trees and new plantings, water, personnel, costs, use of vehicles. Employees and vehicles only drive when needed or can be optimally utilized

• Recommendations based on concise factors: Weather forecasts, precipitation amounts and soil moisture values