ISA AM case studies
ISA AM · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The ISA Municipal Specialist is one of the specialty credentials offered within the International Society of Arboriculture's credential program, which ISA describes as helping consumers identify qualified, knowledgeable tree care professionals. It is aimed at arborists and urban forestry staff who plan, manage, and defend public trees - municipal foresters, parks and public works crews, contract administrators, and consultants serving local government. The ISA AM case studies are 5 cases and about 2,745 words.
1Narrow Downtown Pit Planting Under Primary Conductors
A downtown business improvement district asks the city to plant 72 bare-root red maples (45 mm caliper) in 1.1 m-wide tree pits along eight blocks. One side of the street has 7.6 m overhead primary conductors; a 100 mm gas main runs 1.2 m behind the curb.
615 words, about 3 min2Mature Oak After Sidewalk Fill and Root-Flare Burial
A 65 cm DBH northern red oak in a parkway strip has been declining for three years. During sidewalk reconstruction, the contractor placed 25 cm of compacted engineered fill over about 40% of the root zone within 3 m of the trunk; the root flare is now buried.
537 words, about 3 min3Cottonwood With Included Bark Over a Picnic Shelter
A 90 cm DBH plains cottonwood in a city park has codominant stems with an included-bark union at 4 m and a vertical crack extending 1.8 m from the union. A basal cavity is 30 cm wide, 45 cm deep, and occupies about 25% of the trunk circumference.
553 words, about 3 min4Developer Removal of Protected Oaks for Parking
A developer proposes removing 15 protected oaks, 60-90 cm DBH, to build a 120-space parking lot. The local ordinance protects trees over 50 cm DBH and allows removal with a permit, a mitigation fee of $1,200 per tree, or 3:1 replanting.
546 words, about 3 min5Ice Storm Triage With Downed Lines and Blocked Streets
An ice storm has generated about 300 service requests in 48 hours. Six locations have downed power lines in trees, 18 streets are blocked by fallen trees, 12 trees or large limbs are on houses, and 40 hanging limbs are over sidewalks.
494 words, about 2 min