Tree Inspectors

Field inspectors: it is imperative that the inspectors are thoroughly trained in the inspection techniques and in the use of the latest methods to inspect hazard trees.

It is also important to document the findings for legal evidence if there is an accident or simply to note the advancement of the program. Documentation also helps to detect the trends in diseases as well as hazard development in the sites. The training of the inspectors also should be documented. The inspection procedures as well as the criteria will have to be described in writing.

Importance of Tree Inspection

A few of the human activities that cause harm of the trees include driving vehicles over the root zones, trenching, making changes in the grade, and improper pruning practices. While these activities might harm the trees, it is possible that there would be no visible signs from the outside for as long as 10-15 years. It just means that a healthy looking tree might be very weak from within. This is a very hazardous condition and hence the importance of tree inspection. These trees can be identified at the time of the inspection of the trees and at times the situation can be remedied by the many tree restoration techniques.

Some important decisions that need to be made regarding hazard tree inspections are:

Inspection frequency: the tree condition, the use of the target ground and the species determine how many times inspection needs to be carried out. There are some areas that might require inspection twice in a year while there are others wherein inspection is required once in two or three years.

Inspection intensity: the more risk a tree poses, the more should be the intensity of the inspection. It might be that in some areas it is fine to do just cursory inspection, while in other regions it might be that there is a detailed inspection required complete with tools as well as record keeping. High-tech equipments are used for the purpose of tree inspections.