Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Technical and Economic Aspects of Stone Pine (Pinus pinea L.) Maintenance in Urban Environments

Version 1 : Received: 1 January 2021 / Approved: 4 January 2021 / Online: 4 January 2021 (11:24:12 CET)

How to cite: Biocca, M.; Gallo, P.; Sperandio, G. Technical and Economic Aspects of Stone Pine (Pinus pinea L.) Maintenance in Urban Environments. Preprints 2021, 2021010012. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202101.0012.v1 Biocca, M.; Gallo, P.; Sperandio, G. Technical and Economic Aspects of Stone Pine (Pinus pinea L.) Maintenance in Urban Environments. Preprints 2021, 2021010012. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202101.0012.v1

Abstract

The Italian Stone Pine (Pinus pinea L.) is one of the most employed ornamental trees in towns with Mediterranean climates. For example, in the city of Rome, Pinus is the most common genus, with more than 51,000 trees. This study investigates technical and economic features of maintenance operations of Stone Pines and evaluates the productivity and costs of the observed yards. Pruning and felling are the most frequent management operations of trees in towns and this study analyzes the features of these operations carried out in 14 work sites. The operations were carried out either with aerial platforms (19 trees) or ascending the crown by tree-climbing (6 trees). The operations were sampled with time studies (12 trees for pruning and 13 for felling). Work time was measured from the beginning of operations to the transport of the residual biomass to the collection and loading point, using centesimal stopwatches and video recording. The total residual biomass was weighed or assessed. Total observation time amounted to 63.1 hours. The evaluation of the costs of each work site considered the fixed and the variable costs and the costs for the labor force. A Multiple Linear Regression model (statistics: determination coefficient R2: 0.74, adjusted R2: 0.67, p-value < 0.001) which utilizes four regressors easily evaluable before the work, was adopted to predict the gross time of the operations. This paper can contribute to optimize trees maintenance methods in urban sites and to assess the potential residual wood biomass attainable from urban forestry maintenance in the city of Rome.

Keywords

urban forestry; work analysis; residual biomass; pruning costs

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Anatomy and Physiology

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