ArborSystem – Urban Tree Planting and Protection System
Project
As part of the pedestrian and shared street implementation program, the City of Montréal decided to revitalize Biencourt Street between Monk Boulevard and Briand Street. This revitalization aims to create a cooling island and provide a gathering and meeting space featuring public pianos, a swing, urban agriculture planters, and several trees.
Challenge
The space between the curb and the roadway is very narrow, leaving limited room for tree planting pits. To support healthy tree growth, it is essential to find a solution that promotes root development in non-compacted soil without compromising the integrity of surrounding infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, and buildings).
Selected design concept
ArborSystem, distributed by Alkegen, was selected as the solution. ArborSystem is a modular and efficient urban tree planting and protection system. It consists of the following components: a rigid structural framework, an irrigation and aeration system, root control elements, geosynthetics, and accessories for tree support and protection.
This project includes two layers of 400 mm rigid RootSpace structures, providing a total of 800 mm of non-compacted soil. In addition, a root barrier membrane is installed at certain system extremities to control root propagation and protect adjacent infrastructure.
Benefits
Advantages of ArborSystem:
- Creation of non-compacted soil space conducive to healthy root system development;
- Load-bearing capacity of the cells allowing pedestrian and vehicular traffic;
- Root barrier membrane protecting adjacent infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, and buildings);
- Increased tree life expectancy;
- Fast and efficient installation.
| Project summary | |
|---|---|
| Product | ArborSystem with two layers of RootSpace 400 and a root barrier membrane |
| Quantity | Approximately 45 m² |
| Application | Root protection and pavement support |
| Year of completion | 2021 |
