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Drone Surveying & Aerial Assessments
At Arb & Environmental, we combine cutting-edge drone technology with traditional aerial climbing expertise to deliver the highest standard of tree assessment available today. Our approach is rooted in scientific accuracy and decades of arboricultural experience, allowing us to provide rapid, safe, and cost effective evaluations for landowners, developers, estate managers, and local authorities.
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Whether you require a broad panoramic survey of an entire site or a detailed inspection of a single compromised limb, our integrated aerial services give you clarity, confidence, and statutory compliance.
Why Aerial Assessment Matters
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Trees often conceal their most significant defects high in the crown, beyond the limits of a ground-based visual inspection. Cavities, decay pockets, weak unions, storm damage, and fungal colonisation frequently present first in the upper canopy.
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Aerial assessment enables us to:
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Inspect structural unions, scaffold limbs, and deadwood at close range
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Identify defects before they become hazardous
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Confirm or refine data collected during ground-level surveys
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Photograph and document evidence for reports and insurance cases
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Provide accurate recommendations for pruning, risk management, or retention strategies​
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This is the gold standard of tree safety work, essential for duty holders, estates, high traffic sites, and heritage specimens.
Drone Based Tree Surveys
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Fast. Safe. High Resolution.
Our drone surveys deliver a comprehensive, bird’s eye perspective with exceptional image clarity. Using high resolution cameras and stable flight platforms, we capture detailed photographs and video footage of the canopy, stem, and surrounding environment.
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Drone surveying is ideal for:
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Large estates, parks, development sites, and commercial land
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Rapid inspection after storms or extreme weather
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Hard to reach specimens (steep slopes, watercourses, rail corridors)
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Baseline data collection for long term management plans
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Pre-development planning and arboricultural impact assessments
Drones allow us to assess multiple trees quickly and without the risks or costs associated with MEWPs or rope access—making initial inspections more efficient and budget-friendly.
Aerial Climbing Assessments
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The Definitive Close Up Tree Inspection
When a drone cannot get close enough or when tactile investigation is required our qualified climbing arborists perform in tree assessments using rope and harness systems. This allows for unparalleled accuracy and the ability to physically check structural integrity.
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Our aerial assessments include:
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Examination of limb unions and load bearing points
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Identification of cracks, cavities, rot, decay, and dysfunction
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Assessing old pruning wounds, fractures, and storm damage
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Detailed photographic evidence from within the crown
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Testing of brittle or compromised wood by hand
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Precise recommendations for pruning or risk mitigation
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Our climbers are fully qualified, insured, and trained to the latest standards, ensuring every inspection is delivered safely and to a professional arboricultural standard.