How well do arborists assess the likelihood of failure due to decay?

Decay is a common defect that can increase the likelihood of tree failure. When assessing decay, arborists can use simple tools like a mallet to sound the trunk. Sometimes, however, a more detailed assessment is necessary and arborists use tools like resistance drills and tomography.

We conducted an experiment to determine whether arborists changed their likelihood of failure rating using simple and advanced tools to assess decay. The results demonstrated the influence of arborists themselves as much as the tools they used to assess decay.

SPEAKER

Brian Kane, UMass