What I look for when I’m out surveying

1. What I look for when I’m out surveying Jonathan Hazell 16 April 2013

2. 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 What I look for when surveying

3. What’s the brief? • what does the client need to do with the output? • what therefore must be delivered? What I look for when surveying

4. 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 What I look for when surveying

5. Where to start? • Stem • Root • Crown What I look for when surveying

6. 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 I look for when surveying

7. 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 I look for when surveying

8. 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? What I look for when surveying

9. 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 What I look for when surveying

10. Without a target a tree can not be a hazard the area of most interest is where all three overlap What I look for when surveying

11. 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 I look for when surveying

12. What is the risk? • how to assess risk? • how to record that assessment? What I look for when surveying

13. Is there a target? • how to assess the target? • how to record that information? What I look for when surveying

14. 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? What I look for when surveying

15. Ecological value? • how to recognise a tree’s ecological value? • this will often be the preserve of an ecologist • how to record those findings? What I look for when surveying

16. Let’s not forget surveyor welfare • these two are fairy ubiquitous in urban areas! What I look for when surveying

17. Overall, what’s most important? • there are certain trump cards: • health and safety • nuisance • these will generally be enough to override all other considerations What I look for when surveying

18. 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? What I look for when surveying

19. Don’t ever let anyone tell you surveying is easy! What I look for when surveying