Sustainable Forestry startpage: 97 endpage: 106 eng https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:8918 doi:10.5937/SustFor2592097Z ISSN: 1821-1046 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode Relationship between the visual tree ratings and wood sound velocity of poplar trees 2025 application/pdf 622771 bytes info:eu-repo/semantics/article Keywords: decorativeness, vitality, sound velocity, Populus spp., mathematical models Ključne reči: dekorativnost, vitalnost, brzina zvuka, Populus spp., matematički modeli Živanović, Ivana Jovanović, Filip Đorđević, Ilija Češljar, Goran Šurjanac, Nenad Lučić, Aleksandar Institut za šumarstvo Abstract: Fifty-six Populus spp. trees were examined in Belgrade, Serbia, with a focus on assessing vitality and decorativeness using the Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) method and measuring wood sound velocity. The study aimed to explore the connection between visual indicators of tree condition and internal structural properties based on sonic wave velocities. Vitality and decorativeness ratings ranged from 2 to 5 (out of 5), with mean values of 2.80 and 2.93, respectively; wood sound averaged 788,39 m/s. Statistically significant correlations (r = 0.52 for vitality, r = 0.53 for decorativeness) confirmed the possibility of integrating VTA and sonic measurements. Mathematical models were developed that successfully predict tree vitality and decorativeness based on sound velocity. It can be concluded that this combined approach improves tree health assessment accuracy, supports timely interventions, and contributes to sustainable urban greenery management. Sažetak: Analizirano je 56 stabala topole (Populus L.) na području Beograda, sa fokusom na procenu vitalnosti i dekorativnosti metodom vizuelne procene stabala (VTA), uz merenje brzine zvučnih talasa u drvetu. Cilj istraživanja je da se prouči povezanost vizuelnih indikatora stanja stabala i unutrašnjih strukturalnih svojstava na osnovu brzine zvučnih talasa. Ocene vitalnosti i dekorativnosti su se kretale u rasponu od 2 do 5 od 5, s prosečnim vrednostima od 2,80 i 2,93, dok je brzina zvuka u drvetu pokazala prosečnu vrednost od 788,39 m/s. Statistički značajne korelacije utvrđene su između brzine zvuka u drvetu i vizuelnih parametara (r = 0,52 za vitalnost, r = 0,53 za dekorativnost), što ukazuje na mogućnost integracije VTA metode i zvučnih merenja. Razvijeni su matematički modeli kojima se pouzdano mogu predvideti vitalnost i dekorativnost drveta na osnovu brzuine zvuka. Zaključuje se da ovaj kombinovani pristup poboljšava preciznost procene zdravlja stabala, podržava pravovremene intervencije i doprinosi održivom upravljanju urbanim zelenilom.