ARBOTOM
Wood tomography using sound impulses.
The Arbotom is a novel impulse tomography unit that enables an inside view of condition of trees and round wood. Hidden decay, invisible cavities and cracks and how large they are become visible with Arbotom using sound impulses. Stress waves travel through sound wood faster than through damaged wood. Sensors around the tree measure the time it takes an impulse to travel through the wood and reach the other sensors. The collected data is simultaneously sent to a computer which will turn the data into a coloured image of the tree’s cross-section.
Arbotom Features
The ARBOTOM® is fast and easy to handle: Setting up the system and measuring a full cross-section takes no more then 15-30 minutes. The tomograph image will show up immediately. If testing is done in different heights, a 3D image can be created. It is non-destructive: Sensor pins are driven only a few millimeters into the wood. It is flexible: A variable number of sensors can be attached to the system, starting with 6 or 8 Sensors for 2D images of small cross-section and up to 24 to create a 3D Image of bigger stems. The ARBOTOM® software completely documents all measured data, giving a chance to sort out single measurements, if needed.
Fields of application
The ARBOTOM® Tree Tomograph is an instrument for tree risk assessment and wood quality evaluation. It provides an impression of the inner condition of a tree in very little time. If used in combination with the new ARBORADIX™ it can even detect roots below pavement.
Method
Stress waves travel through sound wood faster than through damaged wood. Sensors around the tree measure the time it takes an impulse to travel through the wood and reach the other sensors. The collected data is simultaneously send to a computer which will turn the data into a coloured image of the tree’s cross-section.
Advantages
The ARBOTOM® is fast and easy to handle: Setting up the system and measuring a full cross-section takes no more then 15-30 minutes. The tomograph image will show up immediately. If testing is done in different heights, a 3-D image can be created. It is non-destructive: Sensor pins are driven only a few millimeters into the wood. It is flexible: A variable number of sensors can be attached to the system, starting with 6 or 8 Sensors for 2D images of small cross-section and up to 24 to create a 3D Image of bigger stems. The ARBOTOM® software completely documents all measured data, giving a chance to sort out single measurements, if needed.
Specifications
- Precise localisation of defects in trees and round wood
- Tree-friendly because quasi non-destructive
- Easy-to-understand tomography presentation of the measured results
- Easy and exact damage assessment
- Quick evaluation directly on location
- Simple handling, optionally via a miniature PC or a notebook computer
- Two- or three-dimensional measurements of the internal condition of trees and subsequent display, also in case of larger tree diameters
- The weakest zones and the areas with the lowest residual wall thickness of the tree are detected with the help of sensors (typically 6-24)
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ARBORADIX
ARBORADIX Root Mapping Tool to be used with ARBOTOM
Haaben, C., Sander, C., Hapla, F. (2006), Untersuchung der Stammqualität verschiedener Laubholzarten mittels Schallimpuls-Tomographie, Holztechnologie 47: 5-12
Frank Rinn, Basic Aspects of Mechanical Stability of Tree Cross-Sections,
Basic Aspects of Mechanical Stability of Tree Cross-Sections
Rinn, F. (2003), Technische Grundlagen der Impuls-Tomographie, Baumzeitung, 8/2003, 29-31
Rinn, F. (2004), Holzanatomische Grundlagen der Schall-Tomographie an Bäumen, Neue Landschaft, 7/04, 44-47
Rinn, F. (2004), Statische Hinweise im Schall-Tomogramm von Bäumen, Stadt und Grün 7/2004, 41-45
Rinn, F. (2016), Tree Root Plate Assessment by Sounding, Western Arborist.
Tree Root Plate Assessment by Sounding – Rinn – PDF