2015 11 09 what i look for when surveying

What I look for when I’m out surveying

Jonathan Hazell9 November 2015

Where to start?

• in the words of the song

“let’s start at the very beginning”

• it’s worth spending [a lot of] time on this

© Jonathan Hazell What I look for when surveying

What’s the brief?

• what does the client need to do with the output?

• what therefore must be delivered?


How little do I need to do meet the brief?

• why spend longer on the job than you need to?

• quantitative data is straight forward• species, location, size

• qualitative data is more subjective• how is tree hazard to be assessed?

• how is visual amenity to be assessed?

• what about any ecological value?

• some data may require research• fungal fruiting bodies, targets


Where to start?• Root • Crown• Stem


What’s the brief again?

• if an attribute is important, then assess and record it, for example• unique reference number

• location

• species

• age

• health

• condition

• safe useful life

• preliminary management recommendations

• targets


What to consider?

• species• characteristic appearance

• typical life expectancy

• susceptibility to certain conditions

• known associations with pests and diseases

• environment• root disturbance

• adjacent properties, structures or utilities


What to consider?

• logic• does the logic flow through, from initial survey to remediation?

• if not, change something!

• if there are no concerns what’s the re-survey period?• for some material if might be 20 years, for other it might be five

• if concerns are raised, are they dealt with appropriately?• is the re-survey period suitable?

• does the proposed re-survey date take account of seasonal changes?

• is the remediation prescription sensible?


Post-processing

• important to ensure that entries in all data fields are consistent• how will the data be managed – sort by address, prescription

• minimise the number of treatments

• link with an existing Schedule of Rates?

• post-processing may change some of the timings recommended by the surveyor• in general timings should be only be brought forward, not put back


Without a target a tree can not be a hazard

hazard

targetrisk


the area of most interest is where all three overlap

How to recognise hazard?

• how to recognise a tree hazard?• Body Language of Trees

• Visual Tree Assessment

• how to assess the significance of a tree hazard?

• how to record the findings?


What is the risk?

• how to assess risk?

• how to record that assessment?


Is there a target?

• how to assess the target?

• how to record that information?


What about visual amenity?

• how to recognise the value of a tree as a public amenity?• in certain situations this may be the preserve of a fellow

professional, such as a landscape architect

• how to record those findings?


Ecological value?

• how to recognise a tree’s ecological value?• this will often be the preserve of an ecologist

• how to record those findings?


Let’s not forget surveyor welfare

• these two are fairy ubiquitous in urban areas!


Overall, what’s most important?

• there are certain trump cards:• health and safety

• nuisance

• these will generally be enough to override all other considerations


The judgment of Solomon

• how to balance all the competing and contrasting assessments that have been made?

• how to explain the complexities to the client?


Don’t ever let anyone tell you surveying is easy!


2015 11 09 what i look for when surveying

Environment