Notes on tree inventory systems

TREE INVENTORIES

A 100% tree inventory is a tree by tree portrait of the urban forest which tells us what the resource is and what the deficiencies are.. The inventory is the foundation for planing all other work on the urban forest. This information provides a tool for the day to day, year to year management.

What data do we collect?

1. Location (address) 2. Species 3. Diameter / Age 4. Condition (dead, poor, fair, good, excellent) 5. Structural Defects (topped, included bark, decay cavities.. Etc) 6. Planting site (park strip width, tree well size) 7. Utilities (0verhead power lines, sidewalk condition) ETC.

Why do we need it?

• Budget tool
• Work plan
• Hazard tree removal
• Trees historical info
• Pruning cycle
• Planting program

Exploring the possibility of partnering with OSU, City of Corvallis, & City of Albany, if we can find a program that meets everyone's needs. OSU has money to move this fiscal year.We have money in next years budget 06-07 (So far)

ARBOR PRO (a program that they wrote, very secretive about it) Windows platform ESRI compliant (NOT ARC PAD) (Data collection is a big part of what they want to sell.)

TREE WORKS Currently being updated to Arc view 9.0 ESRI based. (shape files and tables) The Kenerson Group has a history 40+ years If TreeWorks goes away, data could be salvaged

PROGRAMS EVALUATED

Information was gathered from vendor demonstrations, contact with vendors and “A Guide to Tree Inventory Software” the website is: (http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/uf/streettree/toc.htm). This Guide was compiled in 1997, somewhat dated so vendor or website contact was important. Some of the vendors did not respond (not a good sign) so information was extracted from the websites.

notes	Canopy	ArborPro	Inventree	Treekeeper	Tree Manger	TreeWorks	TRIMS	UFIS
1.	N	N	N	N	N	Y	N	Y
2.	N	N	N	N	N	Y	N	N
3.	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
4.	N	Y	N	N	N	Y	N	N
5.	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N	N
6.	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
7.	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
8.	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
9.	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
10.	N	Y	N	N	N	Y	N	N
11.	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
12.	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N	Y

1. GIS - based program with relational database associated with the program, as opposed to a database program with an interface program that allows a link to a GIS program.

2. The user can configure / customize the program to meet our needs

3. Capability to work efficiently with database managing over 100,000 tree entries

4. System has a GIS -based program for GPS- capable hand held computer field data collection

5. Program has a built in I.S.A. appraisal formula that automatically calculates the appraised value of individual trees and sums the values of groups of or entire list of trees.

6. Database allows collection of each tree’s diameter at breast height, it’s species and its condition

7. Program can allow attachment of electronic photo files to tree or plantable space records

8. Program is able to record work history at each tree

9. Program is able to produce work orders for tree maintenance

10. Program is able to record future maintenance needs and produce reports and work orders for forecasted maintenance. IE. the program can track a list of trees to be monitored for hazard inspection at different intervals and produces reports / work orders for inspections. Tracks recommended pruning cycles for different trees to produce reports and work orders at the appropriate times

11. Program allows for analysis of data for management purposes such as sorting and querying data for species diversity, diameter-class population, locations of trees under high-voltage electric lines, etc.

12. Program allows trees and tree histories to be accessed through reports and through a GIS-based map identification process.

Canopy -Scott Franz, 1-(847)-663-9787, [email protected] , 3009 N. Lake Terrace, Glenview, Illinois 60026. This is the program that the City purchased in 1997. Canopy was recently sold to a company in Illinois called Arbor Green. After reviewing the architecture of Canopy, Arbor Green determined that there were so many glitches in the program that the best course of action would be to scrap it and start over. In essence Arbor Green bought the Canopy name. All 56 communities across the US who are currently using Canopy (not very successfully) will have to figure out what they are going to do. Ie. Wait to see what Arbor Green develops (an unknown) OR explore a different software, both of these options will have a cost associated with them.

ArborPro Jeff Melin,1-(949)-675-3103, cell: 1-(714)-397-0191, Website:(http://www.arborprousa.com) Vendor demonstration January 2005

Inventree, Solutions by Lehman, Mark Lehman, 1-(574)-256-9267, website : (http://www.kundeco.com/)

TreeKeeper For Windows Jason Knowles 1-(330)-283-3338, Davey Resource Group website: (http://www.treekeeperonline.com/)

Tree Manager Anissa Greider, 1-(800)-622-2562 (DOS program) Website: (http://www.acrtinc.com/)

Treeworks Jim Flott, Community Forestry Consultants 1-(509)-534-7111 Cell: 1-(509)-954-6454, Website:(http://www.kenersongroup.com/ESRI/ESRI.asp) Vendor demo at OSU October 2005.

TRIMS Lee Bornstein 1(800)-608-7467 Website:(http://www.trims.com/)

Urban Forest Inventory System (UFIS) Karen Barker 1-(888)-848-2146 Website:(http://www.nrtech.com/home.htm) (http://www.nrtech.com/f-ufis..htm)