Non-destructive technique based on acoustic tomography for the identification of internal defects in trees

Abstract

The present work shows the application of a non-destructive technique as a method for the identification of internal defects in marupa trees (Simarouba amara Aubl.) Located in forest plantations in the Ucayali region. This technique contemplated the use of an acoustic tomograph (ArborSonic 3D) that allowed obtaining tomograms that made it possible to analyze the cross section of the evaluated trees, showing the internal state of their shafts taken at different heights (0 cm, 40 cm, 90 cm, 130 cm and 160 cm). The results obtained made it possible to identify that the marupa trees did not present significant internal defects along their stems and damage was only reported at the base level at 0 cm from the ground. These results show the potential of using this non-destructive technique in forest plantations, thus contributing to the need to characterize standing wood, especially for commercial plantations.