A simple and handy circumference meter for avenue trees

Measuring, and subsequently marking, the circumference of avenue trees is an intensive process. Measuring, marking and administrative handling of marketable trees takes a lot of time. And mistakes are easily made. This is why growers of avenue trees would like an circumference meter that makes no mistakes, is easy to use, and is digitally recording the data.

The scientists started their search. A survey learned that growers would like a device that makes contact with the tree. The scientists then developed, together with two nurseries, six different concepts with various measuring principles.

Testing by nursery staff

The scientists and employees of a tree nursery tested the devices. The best performing device was a modern variant of the Perimeter. This device was developed quite a few years ago but its use in practice remained limited; one of the reasons for this limited use was the fact that the data were not recorded digitally. After digitising and modernisation it does now meet the requirements.

This modern Perimeter measures the circumference of the tree with a sort of tongs and records the data digitally. At the end of the day these data are easily transferred to a computer. A special computer programme then enables the grower to produce all sorts of lists, e.g., a list of marketable trees.

Taking the circumference meter into production

The next step is to fit this prototype with an automatic marker. Linking with a marker unit seems technically feasible. But it is also important that a commercial company would be developing this prototype into a product that can be purchased by growers. To achieve this the scientists are having discussions with companies and they are preparing a business plan.