In Brazil, the effective management of urban trees is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens, as well as the protection of properties in cities. Conducting an accurate assessment of the health and stability of these trees is vital, although the tools available for such diagnostics are limited.
Thanks to the support of the Small Business Innovative Research Program (PIPE) of FAPESP, the company Kerno Geo has developed Kerno ANDAS, an innovative diagnostic tool that applies geophysical methods to evaluate urban trees. This technology not only generates internal images of the trunks but also performs a three-dimensional mapping of the roots, providing information about the soil properties and its interaction with local roots.
Innovation in Urban Tree Mapping
According to Vinicius Neris dos Santos, the principal investigator of the project, the study of geophysics allows examining the interior of the earth through indirect methods, which are now applied to the analysis of urban arborization. This innovative approach allows detecting cavities or areas of deterioration in the trunks and mapping the root systems, providing a comprehensive assessment of the risks of tree falls.
Accurate mapping helps make informed decisions for the proper management of trees, reducing social and economic risks associated with falls and minimizing future costs for removal or replacement of species.
Previously, tools for mapping roots were limited, especially in areas with impermeable surfaces. The need to break pavement to study the roots increased costs and time. However, current geophysical methods allow these studies to be conducted efficiently and economically.
In 2018, Vinicius Neris dos Santos, along with geologist Marcelo Martinatti and mathematician Marcelo Caetano, began a project to adapt geophysical methods to the study of trees. In 2020, with the advancement to Stage II, the project culminated in 2022, already with a presence in the market and clients from the public and private sectors.
The technology combines electrical resistivity and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Through electrical resistivity, an electric current is injected into the trunk or soil, evaluating the electrical resistivity to identify cavities and map roots. The GPR, a small device dragged across the ground, emits radio waves to obtain high-resolution images of the roots and assess soil parameters.
Geophysical data allows characterizing the depth, distribution, and diameter of the roots, as well as determining the soil biomass, improving the understanding of the root structure. These tools also identify cavities in the trunks.
In the initial phase, Kerno Geo explored the feasibility of applying geophysical methods in urban arborization, interacting with experts in forestry engineering, biology, and agronomy. They discovered that the GPR could offer effective solutions, corroborated by the Institute of Technological Research of São Paulo, which sought improvements in root mapping.
To facilitate the understanding of geophysical images, software was developed to translate the data into comprehensible visual representations. Tests were conducted on various species and environments with support from the Institute of Biosciences and the Institute of Geophysics of USP.
The project advanced to Stage II, acquiring its own equipment and expanding the team with experts in biology. Seeking partnerships, Kerno Geo approached the Green and Environment Secretariat of São Paulo, presenting its technology in a pilot project for municipalities responsible for urban arborization.
