Comparative evaluation of inspection techniques for decay detection in urban trees

A crucial problem associated with urban trees is the need ensure citizens’ safety. It requires the development and application of rapid and precise diagnostic techniques for detecting decay and other types of structural defects in trees to prevent falling due to strength failure or damage caused by...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sensors and actuators. A. Physical. 2022-06, Vol.340, p.113544, Article 113544
Main Authors: Papandrea, Salvatore F., Cataldo, Maria F., Zimbalatti, Giuseppe, Proto, Andrea R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Combined stress
Damage detection
Decay
Defects
Deteriorated wood
Different sensors
Drilling
Drilling resistance
Electrical resistivity
Inspection
Physical signals
Public safety
Sensors
Stress wave
Stress waves
Tomography
Trees
Wave resistance
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Summary:A crucial problem associated with urban trees is the need ensure citizens’ safety. It requires the development and application of rapid and precise diagnostic techniques for detecting decay and other types of structural defects in trees to prevent falling due to strength failure or damage caused by internal decay. Significant effort has been devoted to developing robust non-destructive technologies, such as specialized sensors, capable of predicting the intrinsic properties of the wood of individual trees. In this study, the authors used four different devices with its sensors to measure decay: a microsecond timer, an electric resistivity tomograph, an acoustic tomograph and a resistograph. An inspection protocol combined stress wave, electrical resistance, and drilling resistance to detect internal defects on Mindi trees (Melia azedarach L.) located in the city of Reggio Calabria in Southern Italy. The percentages of the decayed wood areas, calculated by the different instruments, were compared to establish at which degree the use of simple and rapid instruments can guarantee reliability in detecting the extent of damaged woody tissues. This study’s experimental results indicate high correlations between the resistance drilling and the stress wave methods. These high correlations may provide the opportunity to replace the resistograph with the microsecond timer or the acoustic tomograph, both of which are less invasive tools for detecting defects in standing trees. Compared to the resistograph, the electrical resistivity tomograph proved to be the least sensitive instrument for detecting wood decay. [Display omitted] •Sensors applied to urban forest management can be very useful for risk prevention diagnosis.•Non-destructive methods are important for both the theory and practice of urban green planning.•An inspection protocol has been developed to detect internal defects on Mindi trees (Melia azedarach L.).•Microsecond timer, acoustic tomograph, electrical resistivity tomography, and resistograph were tested.•Relationship has been determined by resistograph and the damaged zones reported by other tools.
ISSN:0924-4247
1873-3069
DOI:10.1016/j.sna.2022.113544