How to relate the standing tree shape to internal wood characteristics: Proposal of an experimental method applied to poplar trees

This paper presents an experimental method allowing 3D measurements of the geometry of a standing mature tree to be closely linked to the spatial distribution of internal wood properties. The accuracy of the geometrical information is assessed from repeated measurements performed on 10 mature poplar trees and demonstrates that wind is the most limiting factor. Since the method was developed to study the spatial distribution of tension wood, some pictures of the latter are presented. Furthermore, some preliminary relationships between variables derived from measurements such as the height, the local tree slope, the eccentricity of the tension wood area, or the eccentricity of the disc are discussed to illustrate the potential of the method.