Cardiff Ash Dieback Study
ARBORICULTURE & GIS
Client
Cardiff City Council ​
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Project Type
City-wide tree hazard assessment & ash dieback management
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Collaboration
Arb Innovators & Vertinetik
TMA Environmental Consultants worked as part of a collaborative delivery team to support a city-wide tree hazard assessment and operational plan for managing ash dieback. TMA’s role focused on delivering high-quality geospatial analysis and digital environmental assessment to enable the Council to make informed and timely decisions.
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Overview
The project spans the entire Cardiff administrative region, covering diverse urban landscapes, major transport networks and extensive public green spaces. The Council required a modern, data-driven assessment of ash dieback risk across this complex urban tree network. TMA provided technical role in geospatial intelligence, integrating datasets such as land ownership, Arbortrak tree data, OS mapping, rights of way networks, aerial photography and large-scale tree inventories.
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Challenge
Key challenges included managing a very large spatial area, addressing inconsistencies between datasets, and identifying critical risk zones where trees overlap with high-value public spaces or infrastructure. The project also required compatibility with local authority GIS systems and robust evidence to support future operational planning.
Our Approach
​​​TMA developed the analytical framework for the heatmap assessment, converting multiple spatial criteria into 10×10m raster layers and generating a scoring system to identify areas of elevated risk. The final datasets were designed for use within Vertinetiks' analysis software and hosted on TMAs EnviroMap web portal.
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Collaboration
This project represents a strong multidisciplinary partnership. Arb Innovators led the project and provided on-the-ground expertise and drone surveys, while Vertinetik contributed AI-based tree segmentation and ash dieback assessment. TMA worked closely with both teams, ensuring that spatial datasets, digital mapping and analytical outputs integrated seamlessly with their operational and technological inputs. The collaborative approach ensured that each discipline contributed its specialist strengths, resulting in a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment greater than the sum of its parts.
Outcome
The completed framework provides Cardiff County Council with clear data-driven priorities for survey activities and planning of ash dieback interventions. TMA’s geospatial analysis underpins targeted decision-making, efficient resource planning and long-term tree management strategies across the city.
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Services Provided
• GIS environmental analysis
• Digital data integration and mapping
• Spatial risk modelling
• Heatmap and raster criteria development
