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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/346592
ÜÜÜ°ÕÀL>vÀiÃÌÀÞ°V !# Imagine seeing what your land- scape management priorities are with a click of a mouse. Does that specimen tree in the high traffic area need to be pruned this year? Is it time for the American elm to be treated? Having an easily acces- sible and updatable management plan can empower you to know what needs to be done when, and help budget for that care. Bartlett Inventory Solutions, a system devel- oped by the Bartlett Tree Experts, is built to do just that. The foundation for this inventory is the data collection. According to Mike Sherwood, geographic information systems and technologies manager for Bartlett, the company uses mapping-grade GPS data collectors to precisely record the location of each tree to an accuracy of less than three feet. A handheld collector gathers information from a minimum of four satellites to pinpoint the location. The arborists also take photo- graphs and record as many as two dozen observa- tions and recommendations, from pruning needs, defects and any cabling needs, to height, maturity and proximity to sidewalks. When a tree or shrub is so close to a building or structure that adequate satellite input is impossible, the arborist bounces a laser beam off of it, using the GPS device to collect the available satellite infor- mation. The collector automatically combines the distance information from the laser with the satellite data to precisely identify the plant's location. ! Once the inventory is complete, the arborists prepare a management plan. Using Geographic Informa- tion System (GIS) software, the data and photos are overlaid on Google Maps images of the site. A web interface developed by Bartlett Tree Experts enables the client to sit at his or her computer and see, for instance, a color-coded aerial map of all the trees needing the most urgent attention. Or with the click of a mouse, see where all the ashes are. Or where all the trees of a certain DBH are located. When condi- tions change, such as through planting and mainte- nance activities, the client can update the database with the new information. Transitioning to a digital tree inventory system can greatly improve efficiency. "The tree inventory we had, which was done around five years ago, was in a three-ring binder," says Paul Hack, grounds and maintenance su- perintendent for Elmhurst College outside of Chicago. "It's nice to have it all at your fingertips with the press of a key. We recently did some winter pruning. I was able to look at aerial views of the campus to see where all the Priority 1 trees are. I could pull up the list of trees and the pictures of them. If the inventory noted that a tree had a weak struc- ture, I could also pull up a picture of that part of the tree. Knowing what was in my budget, we could decide which trees to prune. It's great, too, for plant health care because I have an online record of what day a tree was treated and what it was treated for." A video demonstrating the capabilities of the Bartlett Inventory System is available online here: dddi.org/bartlett/bis/ArborScope/ %(# !! " ! # $ !# ' & — Scott Jamieson, Vice President Bartlett Tree Experts Advertorial