Arbtech hires CTO in AI-led move
The Chester-based ecology consultancy said bringing in Ed Day as chief technology officer will help it harness Artificial Intelligence for industry clients.
Arbtech is made up of more than 100 arboriculturists and ecologists. Since 2005, the business has provided its services to homeowners, architects, planning consultants, project managers, and property developers nationwide, working on more than 50,000 projects since its inception.
Unusually, the firm offers a refund to clients who are unable to secure planning permission based on its advice.
In Arbtech’s view, the property industry is under-using AI tools. The firm aims to enhance efficiency, accuracy and overall impact within the sector through leveraging AI in areas such as planning documents, survey results and environmental monitoring.
New hire Day said his primary role at Arbtech will be to harness the power of AI and unlock insights hidden within the data of their reports.
He stated: “For the past five years, I’ve functioned as an AI consultant, helping businesses across various sectors integrate and leverage artificial intelligence to optimise their operations and decision-making.
“This involved everything from developing custom AI models to strategising on AI implementation roadmaps. I’ve also worked extensively within the US.
“My interest in ecology was initially sparked through my role as a senior lecturer. Several of my students pursued dissertations focusing on forensic ecology, which revealed the fascinating intersection between ecological principles and investigative science.
“Rob’s vision for the company and his recognition of the untapped potential for AI within the ecological consulting sector resonated deeply with me. The opportunity to apply my expertise in a domain where AI is still relatively new is incredibly exciting.”
Robert Oates, Arbtech founder and chief executive, said: “As we close in on our 20th anniversary, I’ve never been more excited about the future.
“It is so important we prioritise innovation and keep moving forwards. Hiring a new Chief Technology Officer is going to help us push forwards and make sure we are working as efficiently as possible, noting all trends and helping our clients by providing them with insightful reports.”
Headquartered in Chester, Arbtech has a team of experts located across England and Wales,
Day continued: “I firmly believe the ecological consulting industry is significantly underutilising the potential of AI tools. Rob’s recognition of this gap is precisely what makes Arbtech such an exciting place to be. There’s a wealth of opportunities to leverage AI to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and overall impact within this sector.”
“AI can be used to automate the analysis of data, identify patterns and trends that might be missed by human observers, and generate predictive models to inform decision-making. By leveraging AI, Arbtech can enhance the accuracy and efficiency of its services, ultimately delivering better outcomes for its clients and the environment.”
