Bluesky National Tree Map supports research into sewer damage

An aerial map of trees is helping to understand the damage caused to underground drains and sewers by tree roots.

Using the Bluesky National Tree Map, which details the location, height and canopy cover of more than 280 million trees, scientists at Cranfield University are analysing how the proximity of trees can impact on the sewer infrastructure. Working with long term data from Anglian Water, they considered the location of infrastructure assets such as pipes and manhole covers and their proximity to trees and compared this spatial information with records of maintenance jobs.

By using Bluesky’s National Tree Map data for the whole of East Anglia, scientists were able to show the likely zones of root intrusion, and the impact these trees had on the number/frequency of sewer blockages and other consequences. Interestingly, the study revealed that bigger trees had less impact than medium sized trees, and that foul sewer systems were most prone to intrusion.

“Tree roots are only one of many environmental factors which can lead to infrastructure failure.” says Dr Timothy Farewell, Senior Research Fellow at the Cranfield Soil and Agrifood Institute. “However, tree roots are very good at exploiting weaknesses in sewer joints. Root intrusion into sewers can cause significant problems including blockages and significant serviceability issues. Trees can also impact on other underground assets by exacerbating soil related ground movement through fluctuations in soil water content.”

Post graduate researcher Jan Vodicka, who worked on the Cranfield study, aimed to identify the effect of tree proximity and tree height on sewer pipe deterioration. Using the Bluesky National Tree Map together with data from Anglian Water, a spatial database of trees, sewers, manholes, blockages, flooding incidents, pollution events and sewer maintenance jobs was created. This data was then used to quantify the effect of tree location and size and to investigate the influence of different sewer characteristics such as diameter, age and system type.

The study concluded sewers located near trees are 1.4 times more likely to be intruded compared to sewers with no proximate trees present, and are 1.8 times more likely where there are three or more trees. The incidence of blockage events in areas with more than 200 trees per kilometre of sewer is around 30 percent higher than in areas with less than 150 trees. The number of sewer blockages in areas with a prevailing proportion of trees with heights from three to seven metres is almost 40 per cent higher than in areas with larger trees (more than 12 metres in height). The research also found foul sewer systems and the pipes with the smallest diameter are most prone to tree intrusion.

It is hoped this project will inform future planting strategies, urban planning policies and proactive maintenance programmes. The project is also paving the way for future studies by Dr Farewell and colleagues at Cranfield University utilising the Bluesky National Tree Map, including the creation of a national tree-adjusted subsidence map. Anglian Water supported the study with a view to developing its existing planned maintenance programmes, and ultimately delivering improvements for customers.