Tree Risk Assessments by an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified Arborist
Is that tree safe to keep? HumaniTree gives you a clear, documented answer. Every assessment is performed by an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) arborist and delivered as a professional report with the tree's condition, a risk rating, and practical recommendations. Because we never sell removals or pruning, our findings are based only on what's best for your trees and your property.
Reporting
What's in a HumaniTree Tree Risk Assessment
Every assessment follows the ISA tree risk assessment process and ends in a written report you can share with your HOA, insurer, city, or contractor.
Tree Condition
A documented look at the tree's health and structure, from the root flare to the canopy, with photos and field notes.
Risk Rating
A clear rating that combines three factors: the likelihood the tree or a part of it will fail, the likelihood it would hit something (a home, a driveway, a sidewalk, people), and how serious the consequences would be.
Recommendations
Practical options to reduce risk, from monitoring to targeted pruning to removal, with no sales pitch attached. You can take our report to any tree care company you choose.
Assessment
Choosing the right level of assessment
Not every tree needs the same depth of inspection. We'll recommend the level that fits your situation, so you get the answer you need without paying for more than you need.
Level 1: Limited Visual Assessment
A quick visual check from the ground, sometimes called a "windshield survey," that looks for obvious problems like large dead limbs or severe leaning. It works best for large properties and tree inventories, triage after a storm, or a visual check of a suspect tree on a neighboring property. Best for: municipalities, HOAs, large sites, post-storm triage
Level 2: Basic Assessment
Our most requested service and the industry standard. We walk a full 360 degrees around the tree and inspect the root flare, trunk, branch unions, and canopy using hand tools such as a mallet, probe, and binoculars. It's a thorough ground-level inspection with no climbing, digging, or diagnostic equipment. Best for: homeowners, property managers, real estate transactions, permit and HOA requirements
Level 3: Advanced Assessment
When a Level 2 assessment finds a concern that can't be seen from the outside, a Level 3 assessment looks inside the tree. It focuses on a single tree and uses specialized diagnostic equipment to measure internal decay and how much sound wood remains. Best for: high-value or heritage trees, trees near homes or high-traffic areas, legal and insurance matters
DIAGNOSTICS
Advanced Diagnostics Most Companies Don't Carry
Many tree care companies don't own advanced diagnostic equipment because of its upfront cost. HumaniTree does, and other tree professionals subcontract us to perform Level 3 testing for their own clients.
Acoustic Tomography: Fakopp ArborSonic 3D.
The ArborSonic 3D sends sound waves through the trunk from sensors placed around it. Sound travels more slowly through decayed or hollow wood, so the readings build a cross-section map that shows where the wood is sound and where it may be decaying.
What it tells you:
- Where internal decay or hollows are located in the trunk
- How much solid wood remains to support the tree
- Whether a tree that looks sound from the outside has hidden problems, or whether a tree that looks worrying is still structurally solid
Resistance Drilling: Resistograph
A resistance drill, or Resistograph, slowly drives a very thin needle into the wood and records how much resistance it meets. Sound wood pushes back, while decayed or hollow wood doesn't. The result is a precise profile of the wood along that single drill path.
Why we use both
For large or high-value trees with suspected internal decay, tomography detects and maps the decay, and resistance drilling confirms it. Internal defects like cracks or ring shake can look like decay on a tomogram, so the Resistograph rules out false readings before anyone recommends removal.
These results can be the difference between removing a valuable tree and keeping it safely. They also give you hard data to support a permit application, insurance claim, or legal case.
See What a Level 2 Report Looks Like
REPORTING
Wondering what you'll receive? Here's a real example of a HumaniTree Level 2 Basic Assessment report, with client details removed. It shows how we document each tree's condition, explain the risk rating, and lay out clear recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
What does ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) mean?
TRAQ is a credential from the International Society of Arboriculture. It shows the arborist has trained in a standardized, science-based method for evaluating tree risk.
Which level of assessment do I need?
Most homeowners and property managers need a Level 2 Basic Assessment. If we find a concern that can't be confirmed from the outside, we'll explain whether a Level 3 Advanced Assessment is worth it before any additional work begins.
Do I need both acoustic tomography and resistance drilling?
Not always. When removal is being considered because of suspected decay, we usually recommend both, because each test confirms the other. For checking specific trees, resistance drilling alone may be enough. We'll recommend the right approach for your trees.
Will you remove the tree if it's at an elevated risk?
No. HumaniTree doesn't perform tree work. You can take our report to any tree care company you choose, and they'll know exactly what needs to be done.
Can I use the report for my HOA, insurance company, or city permit?
Yes. Our reports are written to be shared and are commonly used for HOA approvals, insurance claims, permit applications, and property disputes.
Can you assess a tree on my neighbor's property?
Yes, with a Level 1 visual assessment from your side of the property line. A full Level 2 assessment requires access to the tree. This allows home owners to document potential threats neighboring trees pose.
How long does it take to get my report?
Report delivery times may vary on the complexity and size of the assesment.
Get a Clear Answer About Your Tree
Schedule a tree risk assessment with an independent, TRAQ-qualified arborist. No sales pitch, just the facts you need to decide.
