About TreeRadar
TreeRadar, Inc. was incorporated in 2003 with the objective of commercializing its TRU™ (Tree Radar Unit) non-invasive tree trunk and subsurface structural roots inspection system. A patent for this novel application of ground-penetrating radar was issued earlier in the year.
TreeRadar's founder and President is Dr. Tony Mucciardi who has thirty years experience in the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) field. Tony has specialized in signal processing work throughout his career in non-invasive sensors. He is a Visiting Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where he teaches a senior undergraduate course in Non-Destructive Evaluation, and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences & Landscape Architecture of the University of Maryland. Tony was among the first to introduce waveform signal processing methods into the field of ultrasonic NDE. In 1984 he formed the start-up company, Infometrics, Inc., to develop the (at that time) novel idea of using PCs as an instrument base. His work led to the development of the first PC-based digital ultrasonic non-destructive inspection instrument which was sold under the trade name TestPro. Over 135 TestPro systems were sold world-wide during the next eight years primarily to aerospace companies who have a strong need for highly accurate and digitally traceable inspection instrumentation. Many TestPro systems are still in industrial operation at present.
The idea for the TRU system grew out of the TestPro system which placed emphasis on a highly advanced and portable inspection instrumentation package that was state-of-the art yet relatively easy to use. The key to customer acceptance for TRU, like it was for TestPro, is to be able to train field personnel to optimally use and feel comfortable with the equipment who are not necessarily skilled in its internal operation. Their main interest is in arboricultural matters and they should treat this system as a tool in their risk assessment analyses.
The TRU system has been under constant development for the past six years. The initial emphasis was on trunks inspection and the current emphasis is on roots inspection. Both capabilities of the system will continue to evolve as system owners use the equipment and feedback their experience and desired upgrades. The TreeRadar technical team welcomes and values this feedback because of the partnership we develop with our customers.