Urban Tree Risk Assessment & Mitigation Flashcards
7 cards from real CATS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Urban Tree Risk Assessment & Mitigation flashcards as text
Which ISA risk assessment term describes the zone within which a target could be struck if a tree part were to fail?
Answer: Target zone
The 'target zone' is the area where people, property, or other valued assets could be struck by a failing tree part.
What is the primary purpose of performing a 'quantified' risk assessment rather than a basic or advanced assessment?
Answer: To assign numerical probability values for communication and legal purposes
Quantified assessments assign numerical probabilities to failure and consequence events, making risk communication precise for legal, insurance, or management purposes.
A crack that runs parallel to the grain on opposite sides of a trunk, 180 degrees apart, is most indicative of:
Answer: Radial shake or wind shake
Radial shake involves longitudinal cracks along the grain that can appear on opposite faces of the trunk, often associated with wind stress or growth stresses.
Canopy dieback progressing from branch tips inward toward the trunk most likely indicates:
Answer: Root or vascular dysfunction limiting water supply
Tip dieback progressing toward the trunk (top-down or outside-in) is a classic symptom of root disease, vascular wilt, or severe root damage limiting water transport.
Which mitigation option is most appropriate when a significant defect cannot be adequately addressed by pruning or cabling?
Answer: Tree removal
When structural defects pose unacceptable risk and cannot be sufficiently mitigated by other means, tree removal is the appropriate and responsible action.
In the context of urban tree risk assessment, 'residual risk' refers to:
Answer: The risk that remains after mitigation measures have been applied
Residual risk is the level of risk that remains after mitigation actions have been implemented, and it must be judged acceptable by the tree owner or manager.
When assessing a tree near Albuquerque utility lines, which defect most increases the urgency of risk mitigation?
Answer: Dead branches within striking distance of energized conductors
Dead branches near energized conductors combine a high likelihood of failure with a target that creates public safety and utility outage risk, requiring urgent action.