Advanced or Level 3 Tree Risk assessment aerial or Piuc Sonic Tomography

When we are contracted to assess trees most people want a Level 2 Tree risk/hazard assessment this assessment is done from the ground and we visibly assess each tree for their health and more importantly their structure. This is done using our eyes and our Knowledge and experience looking for potential and obvious defects, we also use a steel probe (safer than hands and arms) so we can determine how much if any decay is present and also how deep the cavity may be. We also conduct a percussion test using a rubber mallet to Sound the tree to determine if the tree is hollow or solid. But what we do not have x-ray eyes so cannot see for the trunk or can we see defect’s up high in the tree and many times we recommend an Advanced assessment or Level 3 this could be an aerial assessment of the scaffold upper branch junctions, damaged along the trunk or the tree assessed may need to have the trunk assessed by a Picus Sonic Tomography to determine the amount of solid timber to decayed or hollow sections unable to be seen visibly and or a soil or tissue test to determine the course of the trees ill health. On most occasions clients decide not to do these tests as the cost is to high yes there is extra expense for these advanced assessments but what is the cost if you don’t do these test and the trees fails and causes damage or worst kills someone. Recently I conducted an Aerial inspection using a 24 meter Elevated Work Platform (EWP) to assess 2 trees both from the ground raised a concern the second tree defect was superficial all was good but the first on inspection had a large Hollow 600mm deep with at this section a Diameter of 700mm leaving a wall thickness off 100mm As this was a hollow used by birds we did some weight reduction and left the trunk as a habitat leaving the tree safe but also able to continue functioning Another client rang me up and asked if I can come an assess a tree that I had assessed 10 months ago and recommended a advanced assessment as this tree had a branch fail damaging a roof of 1 of their buildings and they were lucky that no one was using the path below when the branch failed. The cost of replacing the damaged roof and then now have to remove the tree loosing valuable shade and then replacing that tree is a far more expensive than hiring an Elevated work platform EWP (cherry picker) and myself for 2 hours when the defect could have been identified the limb removed. International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) recommends different levels of assessment from a walk/drive by a visible tree assessment and advanced assessment. When you are a manager/owner of an amenity tree it is your duty to maintain this tree and minimise risk that it poses to you your family, your home or buildings. To determine the structural integrity of the tree advanced assessments may need to occur, such as an aerial assessment with an Arborist using a Elevated work platform (EWP a.k.a. cherry pickers) or a Picus Sonic tomography, to sound the tree. For any or more information please contact me by phone, e-mail or leave a message on face book and I will contact you (If you do contact by Facebook please leave a Phone number and best time to call).