Root Exposure – Air & Hydro Excavation

Soil can be both blown or washed away to leave behind the roots and in most situations, even small roots down to only a few millimetres can be retained and remain viable. These methods provide the best hands-on assessment of the root system, its condition and its location, but can disturb the ground and can result in site changes. 

Air Excavation

Soil can be both blown or washed away to leave behind the roots and enable their location.

Sonic Detection

For Managing & Mapping Roots

This method allows the location of bigger roots to be identified. The system uses sound, which travels faster in the roots than in the soil and by recording the location of faster sound signals, the location of the principal roots can be identified.

The results are not disturbed by other trees’ roots or pipes, though the system does require access to the soil and cannot be used in hard surfacing.

Tree Radar

Understanding where tree roots are is of key importance, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) measurement provides a high level of detail mapping tree roots down to 1cm and has several advantages. It is capable of scanning root systems of large trees under field conditions in a short time and is non-invasive, it does not disturb the soil or damage the tree. Tests can be repeated and may reveal long-term root system development and can be undertaken beneath hard surfaces (concrete, tarmac, brick) in roads and within buildings.