Advances in Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for urban tree root detection and mapping

城市土壤条件对树根在明显恶劣的建筑环境中生存和功能的重要性得到了有限的关注。在某种程度上，这是因为调查建筑物和硬地周围的根系充满了后勤方面的挑战。这项研究计划的目标是通过制定精确确定树根位置的程序来推进城市树木保护。这些知识可以为保护城市树木以及它们为城市带来的广泛利益提供更大成功的策略。城市森林现在被广泛认为是城市可持续性和城市生活质量的重要贡献者。它们提供各种实质性的生态系统服务，包括经济、社会和环境效益（例如，调节城市温度、隔离大气二氧化碳、减轻雨水径流和增强精神健康）。为了解决目前限制城市地区树根位置知识的局限性，我的研究小组将推进新的非侵入性方法，利用探地雷达（GPR）来定位城市树根，量化它们的大小，并构建详细的三维根系形态图。在本研究项目中，我们将开发一种自动树根检测方法，用于处理GPR扫描的树根，并通过物理挖掘树根来校准和验证其准确性。此外，本研究将细化GPR硬件的选择和使用，包括天线频率，以及有效和准确的根检测数据收集方法。最终，该研究项目将通过为开发商、景观设计师和树木学家提供新的工具来更仔细地设计和重新设计建筑环境，以确保城市树木的弹性，从而为城市绿化做出贡献。

The importance of urban soil condition for tree roots to survive and function in conspicuously hostile built environments has received limited attention. In part, this is because investigating root systems around buildings and hardscapes is fraught with logistical challenges. The goal of this research program is to advance urban tree protection by developing procedures for precisely determining root locations. Such knowledge can inform strategies that lead to greater success in preserving urban trees and the extensive benefits they provide to cities. Urban forests are now widely recognized as an essential contributor to the sustainability of cities and urban quality of life. They provide varied and substantive ecosystem services that include economic, social and environmental benefits (e.g., moderating urban temperature, sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide, mitigating storm water runoff, and enhancing mental well being). To address limitations that currently limit knowledge of tree root location in urban areas, my research group will advance novel non-invasive methods that take advantage of ground penetrating radar (GPR) to locate urban tree roots, quantify their size, and construct detailed three-dimensional root morphology maps. In this research program, we will develop an automated root detection approach to processing GPR scans for tree root, calibrate and verify its accuracy through physical excavation of roots. Moreover, this research will refine selection and use of GPR hardware, including antenna frequency, and data collection methods for effective and accurate root detection. Ultimately, this research program will contribute to the greening of cities by providing developers, landscape architects and arborists with new tools to more carefully design and redesign the built environment to ensure the resilience of urban trees.