Root systems of trees are hard to monitor, while it is essential to know where and how they grow for city development and to maintain the urban trees healthy. We created a model that estimates how much root volume trees need now and in the future and converts this volume to 3D cylinders to include them in 3D Amsterdam.
We try out three methods that vary in their required input parameters: the static, tree dictionary, and tree growth methods. We investigate if the model can provide accurate and valuable insight into the location and the impact of tree roots and validate and compare the three methods for three diverse subregions in Amsterdam: het Wallengebied, IJburg and Sarphatipark. We did this based on predictive capabilities, ground radar scans of real root systems, and damage reports involving roots.
We found that the model is capable of giving a general indication of the space that the roots require but that, in some cases, it is necessary to reshape the cylinders to provide a more accurate indication of the location of the roots. In addition, we found that the model can be used to investigate which areas are prone to root lifting in the future. The three methods perform similarly in estimating the current root volumes. However, the static and tree growth method are expected to respectively under- and overestimate the future root volumes. Therefore, we used the tree dictionary method to estimate the root volumes that the trees need to stay healthy for the whole city of Amsterdam.
Related Blog Post: here
Corresponding Code Repository: here
This research was conducted by Iris Reitsma in collaboration with the 3D Amsterdam team of the City of Amsterdam.
Involved civil servants: Wietse Balster & Nicole Archangel
Scientific Supervisor: Nicole Archangel & Dr. Robert Belleman