Abstract
The thesis takes a technical focus on the use of LPWAN and low-cost wireless sensors to monitor and predict the risk of structural failures in trees. This serves as a tested example of the potential applications of the sensing network. The thesis then discusses the value of a general architecture based on these technologies in the predictive maintenance industry, and argues that a business venture with a foothold in a low-end market segment such as arboriculture is a strategy to secure its entry into the mainstream predictive market. The thesis then takes a business focus and evaluate the prospects of a business venture offering solutions based on the architecture.