Tree Risk Assessment Symposium
September 24-25, 2012
The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, USA
Assessment and management of tree risk is grounded in the science of biomechanics—the way trees grow to sustain both structural support and biological function. More than a decade has passed since the last conference on tree structure and mechanics in arboriculture. Since then, much progress has been made in our understanding of tree form and function, and in development of assessment technologies. The Morton Arboretum and the International Society of Arboriculture have joined forces to bring together the leading international experts to present their work at this important conference for all arborists who must make decisions on tree risk as part of their jobs.
Monday, September 24, 2012
3.75 CEUs
12:30 pm Registration
1:00 pm Welcome
Gary Watson, The Morton Arboretum (Lisle, Illinois, US)
1:10 pm Fifty Years of Research in Tree Biomechanics: Of Tales Told and Lessons Learned
Alexia Stokes, INRA-UMR AMAP (Montpellier, France)
1:50 pm Field Demonstration Introductions
Assessing Tree Resistance to Stem Fracture and Tipping by Means of Non-Destructive Static Load Tests
Andreas Detter, Brudi & Partner TreeConsult (Gauting, Germany)
How Stress Wave Tomography and Resistance Drilling Complement Each Other
Frank Rinn, Rinntech (Heidelberg, Germany)
2:30 pm Break
2:50 pm Field Demonstration Introductions (continued)
Measuring Tree Dynamic Response in Winds Using Tilt Sensors
Ken James, ENSPEC (Melbourne, Australia)
How to Use Tomography Technologies to Measure Size, Location and Type of Defects in Trees to Obtain Long Term Tree Management Information
Lothar Göcke, Argus Electronic (Rostock, Germany)
3:30 pm The Likelihood of Tree Failure From Root Cuts or Damaged Sapwood
Thomas Smiley, Bartlett Tree Research Lab (Charlotte, North Carolina, US)
4:00 pm State of the Literature Pertaining to Urban Tree Biomechanics
Gregory Dahle, West Virginia University (Morgantown, West Virginia, US)
4:20 pm Roundtable Discussion
Moderator: Lisa Burban, Northern Research Station, USDA-FS (St. Paul, Minnesota, US)
5:00 pm Reception (and continued discussion)
6:00 pm Adjourn
Tuesday September 25, 2012
6.0 CEUs
8:30 am Thigmomorphogenesis: How Trees Respond to Wind
Frank Telewski, Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan, US)
9:00 am Influence of Crown/Root Architecture and Wood Formation on Tree Wind-firmness
Thierry Fourcaud, CIRAD – UMR AMAP (Montpellier, France)
9:30 am How Neighboring Trees Influence the Risk of Failure
Mark Rudnicki, University of Connecticut (Storrs, Connecticut, US)
10:00 am Break
10:20 am Field demonstrations
Techniques and equipment used to assess tree risk. See the Monday afternoon program for descriptions.
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Measurement of Radial Root Growth Dissymmetry in 40-Year-Old Silver Maple
Jason Grabosky, Rutgers University (New Brunswick, New Jersey, US)
1:30 pm Can Growth of Side Branches Lead to Lateral Imbalance in Primary Branches?
Gregory Dahle, West Virginia University (Morgantown, West Virginia, US)
2:00 pm Presentation of Results from the Equipment Field Demonstrations.
2:40 pm Break
3:30 pm Securing Planted Trees to Soil: Attributes of Well-Anchored Trees
Edward Gilman, University of Florida (Gainsville, Florida, US)
4:00 pm How Climbers Apply Force
Mark Chisholm, Aspen Tree Expert Company, Inc. (Jackson, New Jersey, US)
4:30 pm Tree Risk Assessment BMP and Qualification
Thomas Smiley, Bartlett Tree Research Lab (Charlotte, North Carolina, US)
5:00 pm Adjourn
Click to download the brochure for the symposium
Note: prints on legal sized paper
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