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发挥作用的重要性一直受到有限的关注。在一定程度上，这是因为调查建筑物和硬地貌周围的根系充满了后勤挑战。这项研究计划的目标是通过开发精确确定树根位置的程序来推进城市树木保护。这些知识可以为在保护城市树木方面取得更大成功的战略及其为城市带来的广泛好处提供参考。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，减缓城市温度、封存大气二氧化碳、减少暴雨径流和增进心理健康)。为了解决目前限制城市地区树根位置知识的局限性，我的研究小组将提出新的非侵入性方法，利用探地雷达(GPR)来定位城市树根，量化它们的大小，并构建详细的三维树根形态地图。在这项研究计划中，我们将开发一种自动的根系检测方法来处理树根的GPR扫描，并通过物理挖掘根系来校准和验证其准确性。此外，这项研究还将完善探地雷达硬件的选择和使用，包括天线频率和数据收集方法，以实现有效和准确的根部检测。最终，这项研究计划将通过为开发商、景观设计师和树艺师提供新的工具，更仔细地设计和重新设计建成的环境，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.