The effect of wind gusts on root plate inclination in urban trees.

Objective: To analyze the effect of wind gusts on the root plate inclination in urban trees and to identify the dendrometric variables that most interfere with the trees' response regarding the root plate inclination in order to contribute to the management of urban planning aimed at sustainable cities. Methodology: The inclination data was collected by Tree Motion Sensors (TMS), which record the actual inclination of the tree root plate. The maximum and average slope and the number of slope occurrences were related to the maximum wind gust and the dendrometric characteristics of the trees. Originality/Relevance: The Urban Forest is fundamental for improving the environmental and housing quality of cities. However, trees encounter stressful conditions in the urban environment which can compromise their structure and stability, increasing the risk of falling. Research that analyzes the effects of loads exerted by natural elements on urban trees can provide relevant information for predicting fall risks. Results: Wind was the factor responsible for approximately 51% of the occurrences of root plate tilting and most of the trees showed a tendency to sway in a southwest/northeast direction. Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. was the species with the greatest inclination angle. DBH and crown diameter were the variables which showed a significantly strong correlation with root plate inclination. Contributions to management: These results can help to develop preventive measures against tree falls, contributing to the effective management of urban forestry in order to establish more sustainable and resilient cities, so as to support sustainability actions applied to urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]