Back in May (observed as Wildfire Awareness Month), I dedicated coverage to Dryad Networks ; we talked about Dryad’s Ultra Early Wildfire Detection technologies (i.e. its large-scale IoT network of sensors that can detect wildfires and provide valuable forest analytics), and we reviewed insights from my interview with Dryad Networks co-founder and CEO, Carsten Brinkschulte. (Read it in full here .)
“Basically what we have,” as Brinkschulte had explained, “are 'electronic noses.' We have devices with gas sensors that provide a fingerprint, if you will, of a gas’s composition. We then expose this to our machine learning algorithm, which is trained to distinguish between the different types of smells in our laboratory.”
This, to me, is still an immensely interesting topic. Dryad is able to make its “Internet of Trees” technologies actually “smell” fires. They bring in organic forest material – redwood, pine, eucalyptus and other responsibly harvested samples – and burn them in a highly controlled setting. Think of a tube with two glass boxes on either side; in one box is the material being burned to generate fumes, and this then travels through the tube to the other box where Dryad’s sensors are able to track the gas composition and essentially read the data.
“We want to be an impact-for-profit driver of true environmental impact,” Brinkschulte added. “We have more than 50 global installations for our Internet of Trees, but there’s always more work to be done. The world is heating up as ‘mega-fires’ rage, and we are on a mission to make a difference.”
However, it certainly doesn’t have to be Wildfire Awareness Month for us to cover such topics.
That’s where more recent comes into play:
Yesterday, Dryad Networks announced the general availability of its third-generation Silvanet border and mesh gateways, which include more new features for truly proactive and optimal wildfire detection and forest management capabilities.
Silvanet improvements of note include, quote, “industry-first direct-to-satellite connectivity, extended LoRa radio range, easy installation thanks to a new mounting bracket and ruggedized, weather-resistant design with IP67 waterproof rating.” Dryad placed great focus on improving the extended network coverage and overall reliability of its IoT on offer here, making this third-gen update attractive for large-scale deployments in even more remote and challenging environments. (With maintenance-free operation of 10-15 years, to boot.)
“The introduction of direct-to-satellite connectivity and extended LoRa range in our new gateways marks a pivotal advancement in wildfire detection technology,” stated Pedro Silva, Chief Technology Officer at Dryad. “These new Silvanet features ensure that even the most troublesome, difficult-to-access areas receive real-time monitoring, without reliance on terrestrial networks.” In short, Dryad can reliably track smoldering (ideally, of course, before open fires spread), leading to forestscapes preserved and even lives saved.
Brinkschulte also made another comment, in closing.
“Our third-generation Silvanet border and mesh gateways are a breakthrough in scalable forest protection solutions. The upgrades reflect our commitment to continuously advancing our technology to meet the evolving needs of our partners, end users, and for trees everywhere.”
Read more about Dryad’s suite of Silvanet solutions — including details regarding their onboard satellite IoT communications (in partnership with EchoStar Corporation), embedded SIMs, and more — by clicking here .
Learn more about Internet of Things-powered solutions at IoT Evolution Expo 2025 , which will be taking place from February 11-13, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Part of the #TECHSUPERSHOW experience, this event combines educational conference programming with a robust exhibit hall, networking events and other activities, bringing together buyers and providers of business technology products and services that are critical to IoT.
Edited by
Greg Tavarez
