JERRY DICKER BA (Oxon), DTEO (Man), Tech Cert (Arbor A)

58 High Street, Thornbury, BS35 2AN, Phone 01454 416945 Mobile: 07798 741872
email jerry@treesjerrydicker.co.uk website: www.treesjerrydicker.co.uk

PICUS SONIC TOMOGRAM – EXAMPLE 1

Explanation of tomogram

The PICUS Sonic Tomograph detects and shows differences in the ability of wood to transmit sound waves. It does not differentiate between decay or cavities. Both are shown as pale blue or white.

Dark colours (black to brown) in the tomogram indicate areas of the trunk’s cross section where the sound travels relatively fast – compared to violet and blue areas where the sound travels relatively slowly. Green indicates the area between fast and slow sound transmission.

The numbered red dots show the sensor positions. Sensor 1 indicates north side of tree.

The wood is coloured according to relative sound velocities measured. Brown represents solid wood. The colours green, violet and blue indicate increasing degrees of decay.

The tree: Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris)  at road junction. Ht 22m. dbh 1.00m.

External features related to tomogram: Three large (approx 25cm diameter) fungal fruiting bodies of Ganoderma applanatum/adspersum at ground level, the lowest loose and several years old, between sensors 7 and 8, and another at sensor 10 of recent growth. Lighter smoother bark Indicating newer reaction wood on buttress roots at sensors 10 and 12.

The tomogram legend shows 28% solid wood (brown) and 61% decay/cavity (blue & violet), with a further 11% of the wood affected (green)