Application of electrical resistance tomograph (ERT): innovative non-destructive method in analysing interiors of standing trees in tropics

The electrical resistance tomograph (ERT) is a customized tree specific novel technology that was developed to monitor and estimate the tree growth and development by looking into the inner structure of the standing tree to analyse the growth/heartwood and health/decay status. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a valuable tool in tropical forestry for assessing the heartwood-sapwood boundary and detecting wood decay. By measuring electrical resistivity at multiple points around a tree trunk, ERT creates detailed profiles of the tree's internal structure, identifying variations in moisture content, density, and decay. This non-invasive method provides accurate, real-time data that aid in sustainable forest management, conservation, and logging decisions. It allows for precise identification of heartwood, sapwood, and decayed areas without harming the tree, making it a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach for monitoring tree health. This paper is addressing the possibility of exploring the application of ERT on economically important tropical trees viz. sandalwood ( Santalum album L.), red sanders ( Pterocarpus santalinus L.f.), and agarwood ( Aquilaria agalocha Roxb.) to know the presence/absence of heartwood/decay in standing trees and, also, to know presence/absence of decay and extent of decay in standing trees using ERT.