Vegetation Management
Japanese Knotweed Control Methods Overview
Japanese Knotweed is a fast-growing invasive plant native to East Asia, notorious for its ability to spread rapidly and cause extensive ecological and structural damage.
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Our commitment is to provide high-quality Vegetation Management services to clients in the Rail, Road, Construction, and Utilities sectors. An innovative service we offer is Aerial Saw Operations, which is fully evaluated and approved by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Aerial saw operations have traditionally been considered more dangerous; they are, in fact, very safe and offer significant cost savings when used in other countries. The aerial saw is used extensively worldwide, particularly throughout the USA, Scandinavia, and Europe. We are the first established operation in the UK; we can assure you that the whole operation is risk assessed to the satisfaction of the Civil Aviation Authority, which issues specific approvals for any work. They monitor and audit all operations, ensuring the highest levels of safety.
Aerial saw crews only use small, trained teams strictly controlled by Specialist Procedures and Operations (Part SPO) within a UK CAA-approved Safety Management System. This eliminates the risk of Working at Height for individuals who would otherwise be tasked with climbing trees or working from elevated platforms.
Overseas utility and train companies have reported significant cost savings per mile when using the helicopter and aerial saw compared to ground-based crews. Scheduling aerial saw operations during blockades can be done with complete flexibility. Removing the overhanging foliage provides cost savings by reducing the risk of train damage.
On average, the aerial saw can trim between 1 and 3 miles daily, whereas a ground-based crew would take about a week to complete the same amount of work that could be achieved with the aerial saw in one hour of flying. Additionally, aerial sawing teams can move the helicopter to a safe distance from the track within an agreed safe time margin before a train passes through. The helicopter can return to the site within minutes after safe train passage, reducing the need for full blockades.
The aerial saw can be flown into remote locations that are difficult and time-consuming to access using traditional ground-based methods.
Transportation of staff and equipment, including setup, typically accounts for more than 90% of the work time, with less than 10% spent physically cutting the foliage. Using the aerial saw could mean the crew spends more than 70% of their time on-site cutting back foliage, leading to significant time and cost savings.
The aerial saw can access rugged terrain, wetlands, and other sensitive areas without causing harmful environmental damage. Roads are protected from damage that could result from frequent trips made by heavy equipment during the work schedule.
In conclusion, introducing aerial saw operations to your vegetation management strategy can help to mitigate the risks and costs associated with overgrown foliage on the UK infrastructure. We believe this innovative service is a ‘game-changer’ and look forward to discussing it with you further.
The technique has been recognised nationally: read how the Aerial Saw was shortlisted at the UK Innovation Awards.
An aerial saw is a type of saw that is flown through the air, usually by a helicopter, to trim trees in remote locations when they overgrow power lines, pipelines, or other infrastructure.
The aerial saw is suspended from a helicopter and flown alongside potentially troublesome tree branches. The saw is turned on and precisely piloted, normally making more than one pass by the branches to ensure adequate coverage. The branches are then picked up by a ground crew and disposed of properly.
Yes, an aerial saw can be used alongside a road or railway, as it is designed to trim trees near power lines, pipelines, or other infrastructure.
The aerial saw is only used by highly-trained crews who are familiar with using a saw of its construction and size, and they apply very strict protocols and precautions are in place to ensure safety. To use an aerial saw in a designated area, a safety buffer must be in place prior to work, and the operation must be monitored and certified by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for each business to use. The required certification and insurance coverage are earned only through safe operation of the aerial saw.
Japanese Knotweed is a fast-growing invasive plant native to East Asia, notorious for its ability to spread rapidly and cause extensive ecological and structural damage.
“The teams carried out the work scope seamlessly, on time and to programme.” The Arboriculture Division of RSSI led an 8-week long project for clients Transport for Wales/Amey Infrastructure Wales (TFW/AIW).
One way to ensure that you have skilled and qualified professionals working on your next large infrastructure project is to choose NPTC and LANTRA-approved arborists.