Gregory Dahle

Gregory Dahle is a Professor in Arboriculture & Urban Forestry at West Virginia University, based in Percival Hall. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in arboriculture and urban forest management, with a research focus on tree biomechanics and urban tree resilience under environmental stressors like snow/ice loads. His work examines tree failure risks in residential, commercial, and utility infrastructure contexts.

Education includes a doctorate from Rutgers University and Master's/Bachelor's degrees from Purdue University. Professional experience encompasses arborist roles managing municipal/commercial tree care in the San Francisco Bay Area and utility arborist consulting. Credentials include ISA Board-Certified Master Arborist and Tree Risk Assessor qualifications.

Research integrates mechanical engineering principles with forestry science to analyze tree structural integrity. Key interests include:

• Tree biomechanics under environmental loads
• Urban forest risk assessment
• Utility vegetation management optimization
• Advanced sensing applications (UAV/LiDAR)

Recent publications emphasize predictive modeling of tree failure, strain analysis in tree unions, and technology-enhanced vegetation management. Work consistently targets practical applications for urban tree preservation and hazard mitigation.