Terms of Use

 
 

DISCLAIMER

Urban Forestry Associates has no personal or monetary interest in the outcome of any of our investigations.  All observations regarding trees in our reports are made by UFA, independently, based on our education and experience. All determinations of health condition, structural condition, or hazard potential of a tree or trees at issue are based on our best professional judgment. The health and hazard assessments are limited by the visual nature of most assessment. Defects may be obscured by soil, brush, vines, aerial foliage, branches, multiple trunks, other trees, etc. Even structurally sound, healthy trees can fail during severe storms. Consequently, even a low risk rating is not a guarantee of no risk, hazard, or sound health.

risk assessments

Risk assessments are performed in accordance with ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification methodology. This methodology does not specifically require a written report describing all aspects of the methodology and reports will only be provided if requested and agreed upon by both parties in writing.

Assessments only assign risk ratings and, if requested, offer mitigation options. It is not the assessor’s assignment to make management decisions nor his/her responsibility to mitigate risk.

Assessments are made at three levels:

  • Limited Visual Assessment (Level I) - A visual assessment from a defined perspective (such as, one-sided, ground-based, vehicular, or from an aircraft) of an individual tree or a population of trees, to assess risk to specific targets from obvious defects or specified conditions.

  • Basic Tree Risk Assessment (Level II) - A tree risk assessment that includes a 360-degree, ground-based visual inspection of the tree crown, trunk, trunk flare, aboveground roots, tree related site conditions, and significant targets. The assessment may include the use of common hand tools.

  • Advanced Tree Risk Assessment (Level III) - A tree risk assessment performed to provide detailed information about specific tree parts, defects, site conditions, targets, consequences or other factors relevant to the tree risk assessment.