Quantified tree risk assessment used in the management of amenity trees

Abstract

A system of tree risk assessment is proposed that expands concepts developed by others and enables a probability of significant harm to be applied to tree failure risk. By evaluating the components of a tree failure hazard and assigning to them estimates of probability, the proposed system enables the skilled tree inspector to calculate the product of those probabilities to produce a numerical estimate of risk. The use of quantification in the assessment of tree hazards enables property owners and managers to operate, as far as is reasonably practicable, to a predetermined limit of reasonable or acceptable risk. © 2005 International Society of Arboriculture.