Island Lescure

Not sure people are aware but these are now free.

I suppose it depends what you are doing and what you need out of it. Have you thought of using QGIS instead? I have PT mapper pro but I also QGIS for certain things. In the field I can use Qfield which integrates with QGIS through a cloud service. Free and open source (although Qfield has some commercial aspect to it now as it just went out of beta).

Here's a bit about it I did to try to explain it to a potential client:

Shared album - Island Lescure - Google Photos

PHOTOS.APP.GOO.GL

And how a contractor would use it:

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

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

On 21/02/2022 at 13:50, africanarborist said:

 

Good morning, a friend in Botswana is concerned about ants excavating soil within the root systems of an established Leadwood tree (Combretum imberbe). These ants are doing this in order to construct their nest. They are not feeding on the tree or it’s roots.

Can this compromise the structural integrity of the tree? And are there any more potential issues?

As far as I am aware, the ants shouldn’t be regarded as a problem. Their presence may even be beneficial. Would be great to hear some comments regarding this situation.

 

Many thanks.

 

Mike

 

Depends (as usual). Here, south east India, it sometimes happens that an ant colony excavates fast enough that a tree can't react with the void being created around its root plate fast enough and then the tree can fail or just partially fail. Most of the time it is fine. Plenty of colonies just at the base of trees. Only seen smaller trees affected (<20cm dia). Anyway, Indian context so it might not be relevant, but might be of interest.

@Mark Bolam

Ended up using this method. Only change was to use a piece of metal fashioned into a "J" that could go in the loop one way but not the other way. That way, there is no chance of it coming undone. Although not retrievable, worked well. Thanks.

Banner content was along the lines of "respect people".

8 hours ago, Rich Rule said:

I am intrigued.

 

What is written on the banner?

Not sure yet, but it is for a good cause😉

So I have been asked to perform the magic "putting a rope up a tree" to put up some banners. No ladders around and the rope shouldn't be just attached to the base of the tree (so people can't just untie the banners).

I haven't climbed in years so haven't had my head in knots for ages but I can't think how one could do that. Any ideas? (Think night operation, minimal gear)

Cheers,

Island

By chance I was on Arbtalk for nostalgia's sake. Nice to hear you guys are still benefiting from the book! @gand@Steve Bullman

6 hours ago, Stere said:

Good luck stopping the dozers.

 

Can't you elect new leadership if majority oppose the plan,  or have a vote on it........

Thank you. Yes, currently in the process but the real bugbear now is the, not very delicate, Gov.

On 19/12/2021 at 21:52, Stere said:

The first link says it was aurovillians themselves bulldozing trees for the "masterplan settlement" ?

 

So there are factions with different views?

 

There are different views, yes. Those bulldozing don't realize that certain studies need to be conducted and procedures followed before roads get built. It is almost like professionals vs non-professionals but we are all to blame really.

It is a great and dynamic place but in some cases we are just too few to be able to undertake some of the work, so people get impatient.

I have attached the report that I compiled which we did in a few days to bring to people's attention the effect this would have without proper/any planning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arboricultural report_16 Dec.pdf

2 hours ago, Stere said:

Sounds like an interesting place

 

 

Hippies having a civil war?

There are definitely some hippies, as everywhere else, but the majority are just people trying to make a better world?

A documentary that was made to show the work done over 50 years. Full version available for free due to these events.

Ever Slow Green (2020) - IMDb

WWW.IMDB.COM

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Ever Slow Green: Directed by Christoph Pohl. Ever Slow Green tells the story of a 50-years-young tropical forest that evolved...

Seems to follow me around. Similar to the Sheffield Chainsaw massacre. Don't really know what to say anymore. In court to stop people who insist on progress by demolishing living assets:

Timeline of events of December 2021 in Auroville - Stand for Auroville Unity

STANDFORAUROVILLEUNITY.COM

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Scenes of chaos have been playing out since the 4th of December 2021 over imposed urban planning measures that...

Pétition · SOS from Auroville: The City of Dawn needs your help urgently! · Change.org

WWW.CHANGE.ORG

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Auroville, an experimental universal township situated in Tamil Nadu, South India, is calling for your urgent support. Scenes...

Please inform yourself and support if you agree.

Thanks,

Island

11 hours ago, Cooper Johnson said:

An incredibly beautiful book.

Thank you! Please leave a review on Amazon if you can. Cheers

Thanks for the support everyone! I am happy that it looks interesting enough to try. I hope it makes you and yours happy!

Please give me feedback after you have had a look, either here or directly as a review😏. 

Regarding price; I am trying to make it as accessible as I can but maybe I will pump it up a few Pounds, just kidding. If I start selling hundreds of copies I may increase it a bit as I am currently making £0.35 per book😅(without counting prior expenses) but I don't see that happening soon.

Anyway, it was a good experience making it. Maybe I will make one on the effects of trees next. Let's see.

The Life of a Tree in paperback is finally here!

A children's book for kids and adults.

The idea behind this book was to make something interesting for both the child and the reader or adult and also to not attribute human characteristics or behaviour to the tree. Many aspects which benefit the surrounding ecology and us only occur when a tree is over mature or dying or even dead. This book illustrates that a tree can be a lot more than just a tree in its prime.

Reviews are important to make it visible when people search for books so please review it if you buy the book!

Thank you,
Island

Paperback version:
USA : https://bit.ly/USA_Amazon
UK : https://bit.ly/UK_Amazon
GERMANY : https://lnkd.in/gwtsWJ2
FRANCE : https://lnkd.in/gEk94ix
If you don’t like Amazon but live somewhere else in India, you can order it from https://lnkd.in/gzuq6ps

Kindle Edition:
INDIA : https://lnkd.in/gWX7cDq
USA : https://bit.ly/USA_KINDLE
UK : https://bit.ly/UK_KINDLE
FRANCE : https://lnkd.in/gD8PHHb
GERMANY : https://lnkd.in/giAJ7am

This may or may not clarify some aspects of what has been happening and whether actions were effective or not.

Facts about Covid-19 – Swiss Policy Research

SWPRS.ORG

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Fully referenced facts about Covid-19, provided by experts in the field, to help our readers make a realistic risk assessment.

On 05/02/2020 at 15:38, daltontrees said:

I was at the presentation. And yes, static load testing (or more importantly the mathematical modelling that is used on the results) indicates that reductions are rarely the appropriate risk reduction response. There is a very narrow window between trees having enough extra strength that reduction is not necessary, and being so bad that removal is the appropriate action.

 

The presentation supported the issues relating to t/R ratios discussed on Arbtalk recently in response to an article by Frank Rinn. Essentially t/R as a predictor of failure is almost meaningless after a tree reaches maturity.IU asked Paul Muir afterwards if it was possible to correlate static load testing safety factors and QTRA probabilities of failure. He didn't really answer the question, but did suggest that if the SF is over 1.5 there is no risk of failure (P = 0) and if it is 1 or less then failure is inevitable (P = 1).

 

I thought about this before, during and after the presentation and I believe it is far from being that simple. However, to try and define the correlation would take a whole paper in itself and access to the mathematical model. I personally don't believe the whole range of probability of failures from 1/1,000,000 to 1/1 can simply be accommodated between SFs of 1 and 1.5.

 

But even if generally that simple, does this mean that there is no role for estimating probability of failure for QTRA assessments? Well, no. I expect a full static load test would cost several £00 a tree, which is rarely justified. And the modelling is based on some assumptions and inputs that aren't always appropriate. And in many situations it would not be physically possible to do the tests. The tests are also applicable only to rootplates and stems. And I don't think there is any means of taking account of prognosis.

 

It all comes down (for me anyway) to one issue which has not to my knowledge been fully resolved by UK case law and that is, at what point in extreme weather does the  duty holder (occupiers liability etc.) not have to be responsible for foreseeable harm or damage? Some would say (and Paul Muir alluded to this too) it is around mid Beaufort Scale 9.

 

And there is still a right time for reductions as a risk management response, but mainly when it is acknowledged that it will tip the tree into decline and when there is little alternative means to preserve some of the benefits the tree provides.

Thanks for your inputs! Looks like I had the wrong following preferences so only saw this today.

Did you mean "There is a very narrow window between trees having enough extra strength that reduction is not necessary, and being so bad that removal is the appropriate action."? So a tiny window where reductions are necessary/useful.

I am not doing many risk assessments these days so I am not keeping up to date with the changes in the methods but it was impressive to see the certainty of the decisions taken and the confirmation, for me, that reductions are generally not appropriate.

One thing I liked about the presentation was the consideration of factors other than just the tree condition such as if it is sheltered or part of group.

I found it an interesting read.

From the Treeworks website:

Crown Reductions: An Inevitable Response to Uncertainty

WWW.TREEWORKS.CO.UK

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Scottish Arboricultural Association Winter Seminar and AGM - 25th January 2020 Paul Muir, Principal Arboricultural...

Pdf:

Share large files. Get comments. Make it great. | Hightail Spaces

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Thanks for the responses everyone! Much appreciated.

Just understood the confusion of the title (I have not been pruning in a while). ?

Hi,

Does anyone have references to prove this? It is stated in many articles mentioning tree benefits but I can't find any references apart from this which I don't think is enough. There is also mention of a study done in  Martham, Horstead, Mundesley and Overstrand but I can't find the actual study. 

Thanks,

Trying to justify a tree planting scheme..

So I have inquired about the soil texture:

Texture of most soil to be excavated:

Clay: 20-25%

Silt: 30%

Sand: 35-40%

Gravel: 5-10%

Does that help someone to give me an idea of time/m3?

Can the vacuums move the soil from one point to another instead of just into the barrel? I need to place it nearby and then move it back once I am done with the tree.

Thanks

You might want to get a phone from India or China. Most of them come with two sim slots(dual sim phone). Normal brands such as Samsung, Lenovo etc... Both sims are active for phone at all times so you choose which one to use when you call. It doesn't matter who you are with; the network operators work independently. Numbers can be made to forward to another number when the other is not reachable so if one sim has reception people should be able to reach you even if the other has no reception. Mobile internet only works on one sim at a time though but I think that may be changing. https://www.mysmartprice.com/mobile/pricelist/dual-sim-mobile-price-list-in-india.html