Integrated Health Assessment and Support Strategies for Ancient Trees in Cultural Heritage Sites Based on Non-Destructive Testing

Abstract. Ancient trees, as carriers of cultural and ecological heritage, are vulnerable to diseases caused by aging and environmental stress, leading to structural degradation and loss of heritage value. Traditional detection methods are limited in identifying internal cavities and root system decline, and existing evaluation systems often rely on external indicators, resulting in incomplete assessments. This study develops a multi-dimensional approach for disease detection and precise diagnosis, along with a health assessment index system incorporating physiological and ecological parameters for comprehensive evaluation. Tree radar was used to detect and quantify internal trunk cavities, complemented by crown dieback, bark damage, and shallow root indicators, forming a concise health evaluation framework. Ten scoring indicators were applied to classify tree health into four levels: healthy, weak, severely weak, and critical. Field research on century-old trees within the Zhengjue Temple area of Beijing’s Old Summer Palace showed most trees fell into the “weak (Grade B)” category. Further analysis revealed canopy degradation positively correlated with cavity rate, while shallow roots and trunk inclination significantly affected stability. Based on these findings, targeted support strategies, including trunk bracing, root ventilation, and pest control, were proposed. The study demonstrates the feasibility of using non-destructive testing for health assessment and reinforcement planning, providing a practical reference for the conservation of ancient trees in cultural heritage sites.