This wasnt well worded i agree...
The problem is with all these decay detection methods is the finance involved, trees are not classed as a priority by the general public and even in LA's trees are always low down the pecking order when it comes to handing out budgets.
I do like the look and idea of the Thermal Imaging But and its a very big BUT, the cost of equipment and training means that inspection prices are high and will never compete with a VTA and GIS prices so it may ultimatly fail as a system due to costs, even more so at the moment when budjets are being set.
We often suggest trees for further investigation by the picus etc, the take up on these recommendations when they find out the price is below 5%.
" Chris, why would i pay that for further investigation when i can just remove it now for the same price...."
I hate to be the one to say it as i love trees and wish to save as many as i can from uneccesary removal but trees are way way down the pecking order in the domestic, GVT and commercial sectors. The majority of the time the cheapest route will always be taken.
We carry out tree surveys of 10,000 + trees for a number of charitys, LA's and comersial clients, everyone has asked us to cut down survey costs to a minimum, even if this means missing out huge areas.