A program to generate synthetic walkers as dynamic point-light displays

Abstract

Compaction of soil is a detrimental result of heavy human use of a site. The destruction of the associated vegetation is an accompanying feature. Soil compaction com- monly causes reduced water infiltration, loss of pore space and increased soil density, decreased waterholding capacity, reduced aeration, increased mechanical impedance to root growth with concomittant decrease in nutrient uptake, and reduction in soil microorganism activity. Amelioration of soil compaction under existing vegetative cover, especially trees, is difficult without some injury to the root systems. Some standard methods of surface soil aeration exist that can be applied to turf and some tree areas, but amelioration of compacted subsoils is very difficult in most cases. For existing trees and their root systems, radial trenching appears to be a promising technique for compaction amelioration.