An Understanding of Tree Biomechanics in the Context of India

Author: Ezhumalai R. and Shikhar Shukla

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Abstract

Mechanical behavior of trees is the one of the prime interest for urban forestry and arboricultural research. Tree biomechanics deals with the study of mechanical responses offered by the standing tree to the external dynamic load (primarily wind) and static load (crown load). It helps in understanding the phenomenon about how the tree survives in strong winds and further assist in monitoring the urban forest with minimal danger to human life and properties due to tree felling. Therefore, modeling the tree behavior and measuring the actual state of trees in situ condition is important for the tree safety assessment. Tree biomechanics study in India is very limited, that too particular to Wind break plantation (Buvaneswaran et al., 2016) and shelter belt (Petty, 1981) study in agricultural field. These studies are related to wind effect on agricultural crops and not to the impact on standing trees. With the advancement of cities and the concept of urban forestry in India, there is a nee

Keywords

Tree Biomechanics, wind tree modeling, wind Speed, Crown Size.

Conclusion

Tree Biomechanics study is the new field in India. Indian city municipal corporation are not much bothered about the tree falling and its damage to the properties because of its less cyclone/storm occurrence in the city earlier but now a day’s cyclone are more common, frequency is high per year and high rain intensity so that the damage to the properties by means of falling trees during last decades was more. In 2020, India received the four cyclones (Amphan, BOB 03, Nisarga and Nivar). We should be more focused and emphasis our study on the designing of city based on the wind effect. Based on above fact and discussion following suggestion and further scopes were elucidated in the paper. • Important Indian cities should be mapped according to the health status of the trees through technology intervention. If heavily decayed trees are found, they should be removed and new seedlings should be planted. • Tall and heavy broad canopy trees should not be planted in urban areas. Onl

References

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How to cite this article

Ezhumalai, R. and Shukla, Shikhar (2021). An Understanding of Tree Biomechanics in the Context of India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 13(1): 77-81.