Consultancy & Surveying
Our consultants can tailor our packages to your requirements
Arboriculture Consultancy
Trees in urban and rural environments present many different challenges for tree owners and at the Nurture Group we offer independent and impartial advice and consultancy to our customers on a variety of arboricultural and planning issues.
Understanding and managing the health of trees is vital to maintaining a viable and healthy tree stock. Our qualified consultants ensure they maintain their knowledge and understanding of tree health issues, including new pests and diseases, through a structured development plan.
From a basic ground level inspection, through to a full tree survey and the plotting of tree locations on OS maps and tree management plans, our consultants can tailor our packages to your requirements.
Sonic Tomography
The Nurture Group have recently invested in new leading Sonic Tomography system for decay / defect assessment in trees.
The PiCUS Sonic Tomography unit can detect decay and cavities in standing trees non-invasively by tracking the speed of sound waves in the trunk, roots and larger branches. The velocity of sound in wood depends on the modules of elasticity (MOE) and the density of the wood itself. Damage and disease in trees can cause fractures, cavities, or rot, which reduces elasticity and density of the wood. Wood characteristics can vary, both between species and within a tree species itself. Such damage can be found by comparing individual sound velocities measured on a specific tree with tabulated standard values.
The PiCUS Sonic Tomograph consists of a set of sensors, which are placed at strategic points on a trunk. Each sensor is connected to a pin or nail (0.8 – 2mm in diameter), which is placed on the outer trunk with a pin hammer at an inspection point. By manually tapping the sensors with a small hammer, sound waves between the sensors are introduced and their delays recorded.
The time the sound wave travels between the sensors can help us calculate the sound velocities. Because each sensor on the tree records delays (times) of every impact at each point, a dense network of sound velocities is collected across all cross-sections. A full coloured tomogram of the trees cross-section can be made on site using a PC or pocket PC. This tomogram shows the presence of decay and cavities within the tree. It can also indicate the remaining wall thickness or opening angles of cavities.
Additionally, Local Authority’s may require further information to complete a development plan in the form of an Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA), Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS) and Tree Protection Plan (TPP).
