The issue:

In an era where environmental sustainability is crucial, organisations like schools, universities, and individuals are increasingly focused on understanding and reducing their carbon footprints. However, manually calculating the carbon stored in trees based on their size and health is cumbersome and error-prone. A more user-friendly, automated system was needed to simplify this process and provide clear, actionable data regarding carbon offsets.

How we solved it:

We developed a mobile-based measurement tool that utilises Augmented Reality (AR) technology, allowing users to calculate tree measurements and assess their environmental impact effortlessly. This tool empowers both institutional and individual users to track the carbon stored by trees in real time and compare it with set carbon offset targets.

The tech used:

• Mobile AR technology: The core functionality of the measurement tool leverages the device’s AR capabilities to measure tree dimensions. By pointing the camera and tapping on reference points, users can quickly capture the tree’s height, diameter, and canopy size. This process is intuitive, requiring minimal effort or technical knowledge from the user.
• Carbon offset calculations: The tool uses the collected measurements to automatically compute the amount of carbon stored in each tree, converting this into practical equivalents such as electricity, gas, and petrol savings. This gives users a tangible sense of how their trees contribute to reducing their carbon footprint.
• Multi-site management & tracking: The tool enables users to track all measured trees across a designated site (e.g., school campuses or university grounds) on an interactive map. Trees are marked with visual indicators, showing progress towards carbon offset goals. This visual comparison against set offset targets provides an immediate understanding of the environmental impact at a glance.
• User-level functionality: Beyond large organizations, individual users can use the tool to assess trees in their own backyards. The system ensures that both site-wide and individual contributions are measurable, creating a wider impact on reducing carbon footprints.
• Real-time reporting: The tool offers real-time data analysis, allowing users to generate reports on carbon offset progress. This is particularly useful for institutions aiming to meet sustainability goals or report to stakeholders about environmental initiatives.

By integrating AR technology with advanced data processing, this tool provides an accessible, engaging way for users to measure the environmental impact of their trees. It bridges the gap between raw data and actionable insights, driving both personal and institutional efforts toward sustainability.