City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/625396
In addition to taking great photos and creating digital surface models of the forest, roads, and topography, we have been using these sensors to assess canopy closure, forest health, active eagle nests, and other wildlife habitat. We also map soil moisture and water coursing, petrochemical sheens on water, and even conduct aerial thermal scans for "hot spots" which run underground through the tree roots in a forest fire after the vis- ible flames have been put out. By pinpointing these "invisible" fires with GPS accuracy, wildland firefighters can ensure the fire is fully extinguished. Drone technology has extensive opportunity for use in urban forest settings as well. Being able to quickly get in the air to have a look for nests prior to conducting limbing or felling activ- ities, being able to inspect tree wounds and cracks, monitoring changes in tension or compression wood over time, or being able to map changes in the canopy cover to accurately deter- mine forest or shade influence in a neighborhood are just some of the possibilities. It's important to note that, in Canada, commercial use of The Roundtable format was a suggestion from Dr. Nina Bassuk that we took and ran with. Each Roundtable contains advice and anecdotes from on average 8 to 10 professionals. We would like the Roundtables to be more freely available. They hold up! Full Collection of Roundtables Available on the Website! Roundtables are an excellent resource for SMA members! A repository of 26 Roundtables from 2005-2015 is available now on the SMA Website, www.urban-forestry.com SMA Board Member Angela Hanson compiled a list of online articles about unmanned aerial vehicles (aka drones) used in urban forestry. Please see http://tinyurl.com/zqbxud3. She would welcome your experiences in the comments section. Thank you, Angela! drones is federally regulated by Transport Canada and licensing restrictions govern who, where, and when operations may be conducted. These rules are designed to protect public safety and privacy, and operating within an urban environment can only occur under a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC). The interest in applying drone technology in forestry is growing rapidly in BC, and for good reason. Sound forestry is based on sound science and sound science needs accurate, timely, and cost-effective data to drive its analysis. While nothing will ever replace a forester's boots on the ground, a little help from above can go a long way. The topics include: Bees Bioswales Building Bridges Between LAs and MAs Building Bridges with City Depts, Part I and II Cemeteries Climate Change Consulting Contract Growing Partnerships Drought EAB Fall Planting Gas Lines and Trees Historic Trees Invasives Large Tree Relocation Medians Memorial Trees Pruning Cycles Sewer Lines Social Networking Teaching Tree Boards Tree Lights Urban Forestry's Location in City Departments Urban Fruit Trees Urban Wood Zoos 14 City Trees www.urban-forestry.com 15 I have been involved with large tree and palm relocation since the mid-1970s. I was always awed by the fact that a mature tree could be relocated and not only survive for just a few years but actually thrive for decades. The old timers in my field who had been mov- ing trees for years taught me the basics. My first experience moving large trees on my own was in 1989 when I planned and supervised the relocation of 15 very large Phoenix palms (Phoenix reclinata). It was a very interesting and stressful experience. The area where they were going to be planted had originally been the site of a very large stand of beach oaks (Casuarina equisetifo- lia) that I had cut down to stumps the previous month. We had been seamlessly moving and replanting the Phoenix palms with a 50-ton crane until we took one of the largest palms off a flatbed trailer next to a prepared planting hole. As the palm was being lifted, one of the crane's outriggers broke through the underlying substrate. This area is mostly solid oolitic limestone that can go down at least 16 feet (5 meters). Usually this rock is very hard and stable—but the exact spot where the outrigger sat apparently was over a small cavity, and the combined weight of the crane and palm caused the rock to give way. It is fortunate that the palm had only been a few feet off the trailer so the weight was released as the palm hit the trailer when the side of the crane dropped. We were able to relocate the crane and re- rig and eventually the palm was planted. The trailer had two broken axles. This experience taught me early on that there are many factors to consider when relocating trees. An intimate knowledge of the tree species, its root system, the sub- strate, proper rigging, root pruning and ultimately proper maintenance are some of the things to consider when moving mature trees. Some of the tropical trees that I have worked with always ended up moving with bare roots. The soil falls off before we can wrap the root ball, yet these trees consistently survive the relocation. Since the first relocation of the Phoenix palms, which are growing well two decades later, I have successfully moved dozens of species of trees and palms. I have learned to be patient and to think the process through. I have also come to the realization that proper pre- and The Santa Monica, California tree crew transplants a Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) in the 1950s using a "hydrocrane." Photo Courtesy of City of Santa Monica R O U N D T A B L E Large Tree Relocation www.urban-forestry.com 21