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/648999
12 City Trees Municipal, regional, and statewide tree planting initia- tives have sprouted up throughout the US and Canada in the past decade. For instance, New York City recently reached its MillionTreesNYC planting goal, a laudable effort. At the same time, online apps and technologies permeate our lifestyle and have a profound impact on our ability to access and share information. These two activities (tree planting initiatives and technology) have come together to allow progressive cities and organi- zations to leverage web and mobile technologies to collect, manage, map, and analyze a variety of tree-related information. Users benefit by being able to access data from anywhere and manage GIS tree inventory information, planting activities, vol- unteers, or work orders—and even view their entire urban tree canopy—all without knowing they're actually "doing GIS." Recently, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and Forest ReLeaf of Missouri (FRM) have launched regional and statewide online map and database applications to track their planting programs and goals. These case studies each have their own focus, purpose, and intended users. First, I want to introduce the technology that the apps use and define some terms. Trees and Apps in the Cloud First, we often hear about storing data "in the cloud." This simply means that instead of files being stored on your phone, computer, or a local server at an office, they are stored offsite on a remote server. Common examples include Google Docs and Photobucket. Second, while we all know what "apps" are, the difference between a "native app" and a "web browser app" might not be common knowledge. Native apps require an install on your phone or tablet (think Apple's App Store or Google Play) while web browser apps are accessed through an internet browser (i.e. a website address/URL). They each have advantages and disadvantages—too many for this article—but generally speak- ing, web browser apps are less expensive to build and maintain and are more accessible since they're opened from a URL like any other website. The examples in this story are both web browser-based apps, built off of Plan-It Geo's Urban Forest Cloud platform and Tree Plotter software. Given the available funding, user requirements, and goals of the PHS and FRM tools, the platform was a good fit because it can be customized, allows for existing data to be uploaded, allows for multiple users to add or edit information in real-time, and provides good visuals through maps, charts, and reports. Additionally, users don't need GPS or GIS hardware and software to use the tools. Any device (smartphone, tablet, or laptop) with internet connectivity can access the apps on any platform (Apple, Windows, Android, etc.). To track planting activities, users simply drop a point in the map to add project or tree locations (X/Y coordinates) and enter data into a form. Users can also choose a base map with varying seasonal conditions—for example, leaf-on or leaf-off imagery. New or existing tree data can be analyzed, queried, exported to Excel or GIS, and used to create reports. These Online Tree Planting Program Software Applications by Ian Hanou, Founder, Plan-It Geo A community tree planting in fall of 2014 in Barret Brothers Park, St. Louis, Missouri. Mishkan Shalom Tree Tenders and students planted 12 trees outside their Philadelphia synagogue last November. Photo by Linsey Will