Abstract This study explores the potential use of a Computed Tomography (CT) imaging system for analyzing the internal structure of tropical wood, specifically the Angsana tree (Pterocarpus indicus). The main challenges are developing an efficient and affordable CT system, proving that the CT system can observe tree rings, and relating the tree rings to the past climate conditions in the region where the tree is grown. We have developed a CT system using a fluoroscopic x-ray power of 170–240 keV, 5mA. We have collected 360 multiple radiographs with a resolution of 2448 × 2048 (5MP) for a field of view of 100 mm × 65 mm. The CT image reconstruction method uses the summation convolved filtered back-projection (SCSCFBP) method. We have tested the CT system for tree rings of the Angsana tree branch sample of 30 mm diameter and 130 mm length. It grows in tropical regions, e.g., the Bantul regency in a Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The results showed that the CT images from our system could identify growth rings and deformations within the wood. Analysis revealed the presence of five growth rings in the samples, which correlated with annual precipitation data in the Bantul region, in which significant growth occurred in years with higher precipitation. The system and its method demonstrate its potential application in dendrochronological analysis in tropical regions, providing critical information about past climatic conditions without damaging the trees. This affordable CT system can be used for environmental conservation, and climate change applications.
Maharani et al. (Wed,) studied this question.