Tree risk evaluation environment for failure and limb loss (TREEFALL): An integrated model for quantifying the risk of tree failure from local to regional scales

Abstract

Trees provide a multitude of ecosystem services but are vulnerable to failure and limb loss under high winds. This is a natural process which initiates regeneration in forests but tree failures close to critical infrastructure networks lead to disruption to services and financial loss. Hence, network operators tend to apply the precautionary principle and remove all trees close to such infrastructure which leads to unnecessary loss of healthy trees, therefore, a more focussed approach is required. We introduce TREEFALL: an objective and scalable framework to assess tree failure risk. It builds upon well-established models to quantify tree geometry, downscale wind parameters, simulate shielding by neighbouring trees and calculate wind-induced failure risk based on meteorological data for previous storms, scenarios or forecasts. Consequently, TREEFALL can identify individual trees which pose the greatest threat to infrastructure networks which can be targeted for field survey and management interventions where necessary. The model has broad potential for application to many different types of infrastructure networks

A Combined Methods of Senile Trees Inventory in Sustainable Urban Greenery Management on the Example of the City of Sandomierz (Poland)

“…Moreover, studies also indicate that communication with the public is an obstacle to effective management, as the public is not sufficiently aware of the benefits of trees [81,82]. Many inhabitants do not perceive the importance of street trees due to unknown economic values [83,84].…”

Traffic monitoring system design considering multi-hazard disaster risks

“…A mathematical formulation of the likelihood as a probabilistic function is challenging to derive due to the stochastic nature of hurricanes. Some studies, such as 20 and 21 , tried to quantify single tree failure probability due to extreme weather events by proposing empirical mechanical models to estimate the possibility of tree failures. Such works consider tree characteristics (e.g., tree canopy, stem mass and tree mass, diameter at breast height, etc.…”

Community Perceptions of Tree Risk and Management

“…Conversely, fear or aversion to the legal implications of tree risk can lead municipalities and individuals to overcompensate with the removal of significant live tree mass or entire trees [21]. In these cases, the reactionary approach to tree risk is often not cost-effective from a management perspective and negatively affects the health and quality of benefits derived from the urban tree canopy [40].…”

“…In simple terms, risk is the likelihood that an adverse event may occur, causing some sort of harm [20]. Tree or tree part failure can cause significant damage to public infrastructure, personal property, and even human life [21]. Damages can lead to legal action and negative implications for urban forest management by local government [22,23].…”