PICUS/Arbotom average timeframe per tree

[Island Lescure]

Hi,

In India. Imagine a place where arboriculture basically doesn't exist. Horticulturist are still specifying works to trees (if you are lucky). Think topping, hacking, trenching, with blunt objects. So, not much demand for tomographs... As it happens, I have been requested to perform advanced assessments on 30 trees. I have done one resistograph reading and assisted some guys with an arbotom long ago. We can rent the gear from the forest department (they are not qualified in arboriculture so they can't do the job but I guess they liked how shiny the tools were). I have been asked to provide a quote where I haven't seen the trees and wont until we do the work. I will be providing a cost per tree per assessment conducted decided onsite after the initial visual assessment (separate cost for visual, cost for arbotom, cost for resistograph). Yes, it probably sounds mad to quote like this but it sounds better than just giving a blanket quote for all 30 trees in one go. Yes, it will be a steep learning curve. I will be getting training in the devices prior to their use. It will be great to compare my visual assessment skills, or not, to the tomograph readings. Did I mention that we don't have any information on important tree decay fungi here in India?

So, the question: How much time per tree, averageish, for the tomograph? Including report and visuals? I understand that it can vary a lot. I am trying to get some idea of the size of these trees sent to me. They have been chosen because people think they need to be evaluated...

What about the resistograph?

 

Thanks for any inputs

 

Island

[Steve Bullman]

Takes me around about 45 minutes to do a test, but I do have the older Picus 2 which is a bit of a hassle with all the wires etc. If you have someone helping you with the measuring, removing nails etc it speeds things up.

 

Thats for 1 test though. if you are carrying out tests at multiple levels on the same tree it will obviously take a little longer.

 

I make notes on site and write the report up at home which can take an hour or 2.

[Island Lescure]

16 hours ago, Steve Bullman said:

Takes me around about 45 minutes to do a test, but I do have the older Picus 2 which is a bit of a hassle with all the wires etc. If you have someone helping you with the measuring, removing nails etc it speeds things up.

 

Thats for 1 test though. if you are carrying out tests at multiple levels on the same tree it will obviously take a little longer.

 

I make notes on site and write the report up at home which can take an hour or 2.

Thanks Steve. Seems I was over estimating. When would you carry out multiple level scans, apart from when wanting to show a 3d image of the inside? When you are not sure of the reading output of one level? Or when the reading comes out different to what you expected? Thanks again

[Steve Bullman]

Sometimes if the reading doesn’t show what I thought it would I’ll take a readying in another place. Or a tree may have multiple points where decay is suspected, ie fungus at the base, then maybe a low weak included Union with signs of possible decay 

[Steve Bullman]

Little sounding hammer is very useful to help narrow down the best place to test. Anyone who has been working with trees for any amount of time will more or less instinctively know where to test though