Mitigating Natural Risks: Structural Assessment of Urban Trees in Belo Horizonte's Central Region Using Acoustic Tomography

Abstract

Abstract Urban trees play an important role in the quality of life in cities, offering benefits such as shade, improved air quality, and a pleasant environment. This study analyzed urban trees in the central region of Belo Horizonte using an acoustic tomograph to assess their structural safety. The study focused on large trees, which are common in the area. Some trees showed degraded ends, but this did not represent a significant risk to their structural safety. These findings can be used as an argument to preserve the trees in this specific area, countering concerns related to structural safety. The use of acoustic evaluation methods, such as the acoustic tomograph, proved to be an efficient and accessible approach to detect internal defects in living trees. These methods can contribute to safety in public areas and provide quick and reliable results. Although the results of this study indicated that the analyzed trees are in good condition, it is important to consider other aspects related to the preservation of urban trees in order to promote a healthy and sustainable urban environment.