Thermal imaging

[benedmonds]

I saw a presenatation by an Italian prof a few years back on it. It looked really flakey.. Only his daughter could read the results and the sun affected it. It's also bloody expensive!

[kevwrenn]

think i will stick with the picus for now!!

[Paul Barton]

From memory, I believe the readings are really only capable of being interpreted by people with extensive knowledge and experience.

Also I seem to recall that the equipment is actually used to ascertain how healthy and sound a given tree is not how decayed/disfunctional it is.

.

 

These are interesting points monkeyd - do you feel that the interpretation of results by people with extensive knowledge is a good or a bad thing?

 

I think you are right about the measuring the trees function from a positive viewpoint rather than looking for negatives too. Seems maybe it is a tool for general tree assessment for populations rather than last minute decay detection for individuals?

[Marcus B-T]

I can answer your questions re thermal imaging

 

Marcus Bellett-Travers

[Marcus B-T]

Thermal imaging has been widely used by more than 50 clients in the UK including more than 20 local authorities (e.g. Derbyshire County Council, Somerset County Council), many large estates (e.g. Blenheim Palace, Woburn Abbey, Windsor Great Park), arboricultural consultants and the general public.

Thermal imaging cameras detect the infrared radiation emitted from the surface of trees. This can be used to measure the surface temperature of their stem and limbs. When the wood of trees is physiologically healthy it absorbs and transports heat efficiently. This gives the surface temperature an even pattern, with minor changes associated with bark patterns or the presence of moss and lichens.

If something alters the physiological health of the wood, heat does not flow around the tree as efficiently and cooler volumes of wood are created. This causes a temperature gradient to be created and leads to relatively cooler areas at the surface. The more the relative physiological efficiency of the wood is reduced the greater the effect on the apparent surface temperature.

Therefore thermal imaging can be used to look at the comparative physiological health and functionality of volumes of wood within trees. The system is highly accurate to within +/-2% and it means that you only use invasive tools when ABSOLUTLY NECESSARY! One interesting thing we have found is that our perception of how likely a tree is to fail is about 3 times too pessimistic, i.e. if someone tells you a tree has a 1 in 250 chance of failing it is probably only 1 in 750 likely to fail.

Many things can alter the physiological functionality of wood but the most dramatic effects are caused when fungal organisms invade it and cause the wood to become decomposed. The physiological functionality of wood is also altered by inclusions, splits, cracks and shakes; all of which can be detected with thermal imaging. Both physical and biological damage to larger parts of the root system can also be detected.

The heat environment around a tree changes both daily and seasonally which in turn affects the range of temperatures present on the surface of a tree. This means that thermal images need constant and careful calibration so that they represent the functionality of wood. Sunlight is a consideration but is easily worked around as are rain and wind. We have only lost 2 working days so far this summer and sunlight has not stopped us imaging a tree yet.

 

Enjoy

 

Marcus Bellett-Travers

[Marcus B-T]

TREES PROJECT LIMITED has developed the TREE THERMAL MATRIX SOFTWARE (TTMS) which allows quick calibration of images based on measurements of ambient air temperature. A rigorous process of proof of principle was used to develop the software using images taken from over 20,000 trees from across the UK with destructive sampling and confirmation on over 7,000 of those trees.

The software is available on a ‘pay as you go’ licence so that even small volume users can have access to the software. We provide full training. A two day training course followed by a mentoring process that can take up to 1 month but trainees can start to use thermal imaging commercially after the first two days training.

The first training day includes an introduction to the principles behind thermal imaging and how to operate a camera.

The second day introduces the licensee to the process of taking thermal images of trees and recording data.

The mentoring period takes the licensee through the process of image interpretation and is a quality assurance mechanism to ensure licensees have properly understood the methodologies of using the camera, recording images and interpreting data.

On completion of the mentoring period, the licensee receives a copy of TTMS and away you go.

 

Enjoy

 

MArcus Bellett-Travers

[Marcus B-T]

We have tried to make the technology as affordable as possible. The only up front payment is the cost of the first two days training is £1500*. Following this, nearly all the licensees training and updating costs are included in the cost of the software licence. TREES PROJECT LIMTED has also negotiated preferential hire rates on the latest thermal imaging cameras with Ashtead Technology (http://www.ashtead-technology .com). Cameras can be hired for around £200* a day but the ore you hire them the cheaper they become. TREES PROJECT LIMITED is a reseller of FLIR cameras (http://www.flir.com) the worlds leading infrared camera manufacturer. We have extensively researched the market for the most suitable cameras and these can be purchased for around £12,000*.

 

Enjoy

 

Marcus Bellett-Travers

[Paul Barton]

Hi Marcus,

 

Thanks so much for these posts - great to have the facts from the horses mouth so to speak!

 

regards,

Paul

[benedmonds]

Dr Marcus is down as a speaker at Cole Nurseries on the 11th of sept, so if you are interested you can check it out, there web site:

http://www.unearthedlive.co.uk