Electrical Resistance Tomography of Decaying Logs in a Laboratory Setting
Gustafson, Skylar (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025053018348
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025053018348
Tiivistelmä
Electric resistance tomography (ERT) is an established geophysical imaging technique. It can also be used for imaging trees. The Treetronic3 is a device capable of conducting such measurements. It was designed for use in live trees, but it has also been used on logs in a laboratory in some instances. Using it on dead trees is not yet a well established method. This study aimed to explore its viability specifically in studying logs inoculated with fungi in a laboratory setting.
45 logs were studied, 15 of which were aspen and 30 of which were pine. 15 of the pines were large uniform logs and the other 15 were small and had knots as well as varied circumferences. Each tree - aspen, pine 1, and pine 2 - had 3 sets of 5 logs. 2 sets with fungi and 1 control set with no fungi. In total 6 types of fungi were used. These logs were kept at 22°C and 50% humidity and measured repeatedly with the Treetronic3 over a period of 101 days.
The results showed great potential. The tomography results consistently and accurately showed the decay within the tree. Due to technical difficulties with the logs the number of readings was limited. This affected the results and limited the ability to assess the viability of the technique. This technique is worth further study and with a few adjustments to the method it could be a very useful tool.
45 logs were studied, 15 of which were aspen and 30 of which were pine. 15 of the pines were large uniform logs and the other 15 were small and had knots as well as varied circumferences. Each tree - aspen, pine 1, and pine 2 - had 3 sets of 5 logs. 2 sets with fungi and 1 control set with no fungi. In total 6 types of fungi were used. These logs were kept at 22°C and 50% humidity and measured repeatedly with the Treetronic3 over a period of 101 days.
The results showed great potential. The tomography results consistently and accurately showed the decay within the tree. Due to technical difficulties with the logs the number of readings was limited. This affected the results and limited the ability to assess the viability of the technique. This technique is worth further study and with a few adjustments to the method it could be a very useful tool.