Mapping coarse tree roots using ground-penetrating radar with an angular grid acquisition
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Roots are critical to tree health, biomass, and structural stability, yet their subsurface complexity makes them difficult to characterize. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a nondestructive geophysical method capable of imaging coarse woody roots, but transforming raw GPR data into spatially coherent root maps remains challenging. This study presents 3.6 km of GPR data collected around a mature swamp oak ( Quercus palustris ) with a diameter at breast height of 1.1 m, located in the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, USA. A total of 1170 profiles were acquired at 15 cm spacing using a 500 MHz antenna and a novel angular grid geometry that maintained perpendicular orientation to radially extending roots. A multi-stage processing workflow—comprising velocity analysis, migration, and depth-normalized amplitude enhancement—was used to visualize high-amplitude anomalies interpreted as roots. The resulting dendritic network exhibited visible asymmetry, with higher root density on the upslope side of the trunk. Roots initiated near the trunk at depths of 30–60 cm and became shallower (10–20 cm) near the canopy edge, over 10 m away. A GPR-derived map was used to guide airspade excavation, which confirmed the location of coarse roots predicted by the survey. These results demonstrate that high-density GPR data, when paired with optimized acquisition and processing, can resolve spatially continuous root networks and support non-invasive root system characterization. **SUBMITED **SUBMITED TO APPLIED GEOPHYSICS 8-Oct-2025** 8-Oct-2025**
Source: Journal of Applied Geophysics
Institutions: University of Newcastle Australia, Clemson University
Language: English
Subfield: Ocean Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,180
OpenAlex ID: W7140165128