Kane, Brian
MA Arborist Assoc. Asst. Prof. of Commercial Arboriculture
413-545-6637
126 Holdsworth
Email: bkanebkane(at)nrc.umass.edu
Primary interests & Current Projects
Tree risk and structure analysis: determining risk of failure from structural defects and understanding how arboriculture practices such as pruning reduce the risk of failure (youtube.com/cladrastis)
Arboriculture techniques: understanding rigging loads and the stresses they cause on trees; understanding efficacy of tree support systems and how well they reduce risk of stem or branch failure (youtube.com/cladrastis)
Urban forestry: investigating attitudes and qualifications of tree wardens and urban forestry programs in Massachusetts.
Current Student Research Projects
- Measuring resistance of ropes to being cut by a handsaw (Mac Cloyes, Mollie Freilicher)
- Assessing USDA FS urban forest management parameters in MA (Mollie Freilicher, MS)
- Measuring forces and tree sway in response to rigging loads (Ed Carpenter) (youtube.com/cladrastis)
- Strength loss in rope snaps and carabiners used by tree climbers (Marcy Gladdys) (youtube.com/cladrastis)
- Lag pullout strength in deciduous trees (Mollie Freilicher, Mac Cloyes)
Courses Taught
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FOREST 102 Arboriculture Field Techniques I
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FOREST 191A Seminar in Arboriculture
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FOREST 210 Arboriculture Field Techniques II
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FOREST 305 The Business of Tree Care
Selected Recent Publications
Refereed:
Kane, B. and H.D.P. Ryan. 2009. Residual strength of carabiners used by tree climbers. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 35(2):75-79. Watch a video of the project: youtube.com/cladrastis
Kane, B., S. Brena, and W. Autio. 2009. Forces and stresses generated during rigging operations. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 35(2):68-74. Watch a video of the project: youtube.com/cladrastis
Kane, B., R.W. Farrell, S.M. Zedaker, J.R. Loferski, and D.W. Smith. 2008. Failure Mode and Prediction of the Strength of Branch Attachments. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 34(5):308-316.
James, K. and B. Kane. 2008. Precision digital instruments to measure dynamic wind loads on trees during storms. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 148:1055-1061.
Pavlis, M., B. C. P. Kane, J. R. Seiler, and J. R. Harris. 2008. The effect of pruning on drag-induced bending moments. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 34(4):207-215. Watch a video of the project: youtube.com/cladrastis
Kane, B., M. Pavlis, J. R. Seiler, J. R. Harris. 2008. Crown reconfiguration and trunk stress in deciduous trees. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 38(6):1275-1289. Brochure in pdf
Kane, B. and P. Clouston. 2008. Tree Pulling Tests of Large Shade Trees in the Genus Acer. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 34(2):101-109. Watch a video of the project: youtube.com/cladrastis
Kane, B. 2008. The Effect of Defects, Maintenance, Size, and Species on Tree Failures in Campgrounds in Brewster, Massachusetts, USA. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 7(1):15-23
Kane, B. 2007. Branch strength in Bradford pear ( Pyrus calleryana var. ‘Bradford’). Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 34(4):283-291.
Kane, B. 2007. Friction coefficients for arborist ropes passing through cambium saver rings. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 34(1):31-42.
Smiley, E.T. and B. Kane. 2006. The effect of pruning on wind-loading of shade trees. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 32(1):33-40.
Kane, B. and E.T. Smiley. 2006. Drag coefficients and crown area estimation of red maple. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 36(8):1951-1958.
Rooney, C.J., H.D.P. Ryan, D.V. Bloniarz, and B.C.P. Kane. 2005. The reliability of a windshield survey to locate hazards in roadside trees. Journal of Arboriculture 31: 88-93.
Kane, B.C.P. and H.D.P. Ryan. 2004. The accuracy of formulas used to assess strength loss due to decay in trees. Journal of Arboriculture 30(6):347-356.
Mortimer, M.J. and B.C.P. Kane. 2004. Hazard Tree Law in the United States. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 2(3):159-165.
Kane, B.C.P. and H.D.P. Ryan. 2003. Comparing formulas that examine strength loss due to decay in trees: woundwood toughness improvement in red maple (Acer rubrum). Journal of Arboriculture 29(4):208-215.
Kane, B.C.P. and H.D.P. Ryan. 2002. Discoloration and decay associated with hardware installation in trees. Journal of Arboriculture 28(4):187-193.
Kane, B.C.P., H.D.P. Ryan, and D.V. Bloniarz. 2001. Comparing formulae for assessing strength loss due to decay in trees. Journal of Arboriculture 27(2):78-87.
Professional Achievements
Vice Chair, ISA Science & Research Committee Associate Editor Arboriculture & Urban Forestry
Member ISA Educational Goods & Services Committee
Member Tree Dynamics and Arborist Techniques Fund Committee
State Farm Companies Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Fellow 2002
4th place in New England Regional Tree Climbing Championships 2006
Careers in Arboriculture
http://www.isa-arbor.com/careersInArboriculture/careers.aspx
http://www.tcia.org/
