Nadina Galle is a major figure of urban ecology and the creator of Internet of nature(IoN). She redefines the way we interact with our urban surroundings combining technology and ecology. She also recently released a new book : « The nature of our cities » which will certainly become an important book in the urbanism world. This article is also available in french.
Nadine Galle’s vision on urban nature
We can hear about Nadina Galle a lot in medias where she can express her will to protect and value biodiversity as a central element or urban resilience. That thought is interesting, meaning that biodiversity is not only to be protected but can also protect our cities making them stronger and more sustainable ! In her numerous interviews, she insists on the importance of seeing cities not as static concrete blocks bus as living ecosystems where humans, animals, and technologies coexist. Her belief is that every part of the city, from the roof of a building to a small neighborhood park, can play a vital role in combating climate change, while improving the health and well-being of city dwellers. We can only agree on that ! Roofs, schoolyards, pavements are nothing like a huge park but they really do play their part in refreshing a city !
Internet of nature : an ecological and technological revolution
Nadina Galle is the creator of a unique and promising concept: the Internet of nature (IoN). This concept is based on the idea that technology and nature can work together to solve the environmental challenges faced by modern cities. The core idea of the Internet of nature is simple: it uses smart sensors and real-time data to better understand urban ecosystems. These sensors can be installed in trees, parks, green roofs, or even waterways to collect information on air quality, soil moisture, temperatures, the presence of pollinators, and much more. This technology is used to monitor the health of trees in cities, identify areas where biodiversity is under threat, and optimize planting strategies. According to Nadina, these technologies can enable cities to proactively respond to environmental challenges while improving the quality of life for residents.
Concrete projects
In Amsterdam Nadina Galle participated in a project where sensors were installed in public trees to monitor their health and prevent diseases. These sensors helped local authorities to quickly respond by prioritizing trees in distress, while reducing unnecessary interventions.
In New York, she collaborated with urban planners to install sensors in city parks, where the collected data helps manage biodiversity. The goal being to preserve local species.
Singapore also benefits from Nadina’s innovations to optimize the use of its green roofs and hanging gardens. These projects demonstrate the tangible impact making green space management more efficient, proactive, and sustainable can have on cities.
Towards an innovative future focused on the environment
By combining her expertise in urban ecology with her passion for innovation, Nadina Galle invites us to rethink our cities as interconnected ecosystems, where technology becomes a tool in the service of nature. Her work with the Internet of nature proves that solutions to urban environmental challenges do not solely rely on traditional methods but can also stem from data and new technologies ! With the Internet of nature, Nadina Galle is paving the way for a new era of urban ecology, where every tree, every plot of land, and every urban waterway can be monitored and protected through smart sensors.
We hope this article has inspired you to learn more about Nadina Galle’s important work.
Nadina Galle’s book : « The nature of our cities«
To go further, Nadina Galle released a new book. « The Nature of our cities », explores the combination of ecology and technology in urban environments. We did not have the chance to read this book yet but if it’s as interestign as her projects and interviews, it should be a really important book in the urbanism world ! In this book, she advocates for integrating nature into citiesby using digital tools to monitor and restore urban ecosystems. Through real-world examples, the book highlights how smart sensors and data can help cities become more resilient and sustainable. Her approach, rooted in her concept of the Internet of nature, offers practical solutions for addressing environmental challenges.
To hear directly from Nadina Galle, here are some of her apparitions in medias
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