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Comparison of four methods of visual risk tree assessment in urban areas
Authors: Mauricio Ponce-Donoso, Óscar Vallejos-Barra, Jorge Reyes de la Barra, Gustavo Daniluk-Mosquera, Ana Paula Coelho Duarte
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Four methods of visual risk tree assessment were applied in 30 urban trees with different risk levels, in Talca city (Chile). The methods used were: “Avaliação de árvores de risco na arborização de vias públicas de Nova Olímpia” (Sampaio Method), “International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Matheny & Clark” (Method ISA[A]), “Best Management Practice BMP/ISA” (Method ISA[B]) and “Urban tree risk management USDA Forest Service” (Method USF). The results were standardized for statistical analysis, finding significant differences and variations between the methods, after applying the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis and Duncan test. Three groups were formed; the Sampaio and USF methods, which presented very high and high risk assessments, respectively; the second one was conformed by USF and ISA (A), which presented high to medium risk assessments; while the third group was shaped by ISA (B) with low risk assessments. Since the Talca city does not have its own methodology, it is suggested that the ISA (A) or USF method could be used in the Mediterranean area of Chile, because they were the methods presenting the best adaptation to local conditions.