CAD for Arborists

This page contains the National membership list of CAS Professional Members who have been assessed and demonstrated their professional competency in the application of CAD to landscape graphics.

CAD is a common acronym used in place of the terms computer aided design or computer aided drawing. These terms are fairly descriptive and relate to using computer software to produce designs, technical drawings and plans that would have previously been drawn by hand on paper. It is still common for work produced by CAD to be printed on paper and used as the basis for a hand drawn design, but there are compelling reasons to complete the design process electronically, even present and store the results in one of the many electronic formats.

Landscape data too is increasingly being produced in electronic forms suitable for CAD use. For example, surveyors conducting topographical surveys will almost always deliver the results as a CAD file, often produced semi-automatically by specialist computer software. Most professionals, including arborists, working in construction related industries are finding it increasingly necessary to manage and use the CAD files they receive from clients, colleagues or other project stakeholders. Furthermore, having the right CAD skills, and applying them intelligently, will almost certainly increases the productivity and credibility of any business involved in construction projects.

CAS has defined four CAD skill levels, listed below, ranging from the minimum level of skill necessary for the useful application of CAD, to advanced level where the CAD software is being exploited to give value-added to the designs, plans and reports produced by arborists.

Each CAS member listed on this page has demonstrated their proficiency in using CAD software by acquiring all the skills listed below and attending a workshop on the application of CAD techniques to landscape graphics.

Skill Level 1

Recognise the common CAD file formats.
Identify and use appropriate software to open, view and close CAD files.

Skill Level 2

Meet the requirements of skill level 1.
Recognise common drawing objects like text, lines and circles.
Make minor changes to some properties of common drawing objects and save drawing changes.

Skill Level 3

Meet the requirements of skill levels 1 and 2.
Create new CAD drawings.
Create new drawing objects with the correct properties;
Appreciate drawing scales.
Cut and paste objects between different CAD files whilst maintaining their relative integrity.
Produce presentable CAD drawings from scratch within a drawing frame containing a title block.
Produce a correctly formatted and scaled print or plot, to paper, or a commonly used electronic output like .pdf.

Skill Level 4

Meet the requirements of skill levels 1, 2 and 3.
Produce tree plans conforming to the specification defined by CAS.
Prepare a topographical survey drawing, or OS tile, for use as a site plan within a tree plan drawing.
Prepare a drawing border and title block.
Create schematic trees using line-type and colour to represent tree properties.
Produce a scaled paper print or .pdf file of the finished tree plan.
Use more advanced CAD techniques over and above those required to meet skill level 3.

This training is for anyone required to generate or modify CAD documents. And would greatly benefit those who see the advantages of producing high quality drawings that impress their clients and inform their contractors.

For details of CAD seminars and workshops, see the CAS CPD Events page

These members have provided proof of:-

A recognised arboricultural qualification or accreditation of practical experience and expertise.
4 years experience in arboriculture.
Minimum of £500,000 Professional Indemnity insurance.
Attendance of the CAS CAD Tree Plan Seminar as well as successful completion of the subsequent assignment.

Organised alphabetically by area

Name	Area	Phone Number	Email / Website
Kevin Cloud	Hampshire	01489 896655	info@techarb.co.uk www.techarb.co.uk
William John Rowbottom	North Manchester	0161 7732788	bill@rowbottoms-tree-services.co.uk www.rowbottoms-tree-services.co.uk