Tree Biomechanics: A White Paper from the 2012 International Meeting and Research Summit at The Morton Arboretum (Lisle, Illinois, U.S.)    (View PDF)

Gregory Dahle, Jason Grabosky, Brian Kane, Jason Miesbauer, Ward Peterson, Frank W. Telewski, Andrew Koeser, and Gary W. Watson

Abstract: The International Society of Arboriculture, in conjunction with The Morton Arboretum (Lisle, Illinois, U.S.), convened Tree Biomechanics Summit in September 2010 – bringing together a panel of internationally-recognized experts in the fields of tree biology, tree structure, structural engineering, computer modeling, and arboriculture. Following two days of public research talks on the state of tree biomechanics research, presenters were invited to attend a researcher summit to discuss persisting research gaps and prioritize research needs. Over the course of the event, summit attendees identified five priority research areas: 1) improving efforts to assess mechanical failure potential in trees; 2) modeling the impact of mechanical loading on trees; 3) understanding the mechanisms and modes of tree failure; 4) understanding tree growth response to mechanical loads; and 5) increasing the effectiveness of tree risk mitigation practices. Beyond research priorities, summit participants discussed opportunities for advancing future tree biomechanics research efforts, including the creation of a formal working group dedicated to the subject.

Keywords: Biomechanics; Failure; Mitigation; Research; Structural Behavior; Summit; Tree Failure.

https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2014.029