david bloniarz, usda forest service christopher rooney, univ. of massachusetts/amherst tree...

David Bloniarz, USDA Forest ServiceDavid Bloniarz, USDA Forest Service

Christopher Rooney, Univ. of Christopher Rooney, Univ. of

Massachusetts/AmherstMassachusetts/Amherst

Tree Inventories: Strategies for Tree Inventories: Strategies for Effective ManagementEffective Management

New approaches and New approaches and

technologies for Tree technologies for Tree

Wardens, Arborists and Wardens, Arborists and

Urban & Community Urban & Community

ForestersForesters

An Outline of Today’s An Outline of Today’s PresentationPresentation

Inventory BackgroundInventory Background

Reporting your Reporting your

FindingsFindings

Windshield SurveysWindshield Surveys

Computerized OptionsComputerized Options

Tree City USA Tree City USA BulletinBulletin

National Arbor Day National Arbor Day

Foundation publicationFoundation publication

Valuable summary and Valuable summary and

recap of key concepts recap of key concepts

Specific Problem InventorySpecific Problem Inventory

Related to only one Related to only one

problemproblem

Limited to one problem Limited to one problem

rather than broad rather than broad

managementmanagement

Asian Longhorned Asian Longhorned

BeetleBeetle

Dutch Elm DiseaseDutch Elm Disease

Park and Natural AreasPark and Natural Areas

Manicured Parks - Trees Manicured Parks - Trees

are individually are individually

inventoriedinventoried

Natural Areas - Natural Areas -

Sampling, typing or Sampling, typing or

groupinggrouping

Utilization of GIS, GPS Utilization of GIS, GPS

and remote sensingand remote sensing

Cover Type SurveyCover Type Survey

Utilizes aerial photosUtilizes aerial photos

Quantifies canopy extendQuantifies canopy extend

Monitoring of trends, Monitoring of trends,

patterns and changespatterns and changes

Useful for planning new Useful for planning new

construction - protection construction - protection

zones; energy savings zones; energy savings

potentialpotential

Sampling MethodSampling Method

Inexpensive and quickInexpensive and quick

Requires random sampleRequires random sample

Assists in developing Assists in developing

whole and accurate whole and accurate

profiles of the populationprofiles of the population

May require stratification May require stratification

or grouping of land-use or grouping of land-use

typestypes

Windshield SurveyWindshield Survey

Gathers more info than Gathers more info than

the Specific Problem the Specific Problem

InventoryInventory

Relatively inexpensive Relatively inexpensive

and quick to completeand quick to complete

Can be ongoingCan be ongoing

Less precise than Less precise than

individual inspectionindividual inspection

Ideal for inspection Ideal for inspection

following storm eventsfollowing storm events

Complete Inventory - Complete Inventory - PeriodicPeriodic

All trees are All trees are

inventoriedinventoried

Location is recorded by Location is recorded by

address, GPS or GISaddress, GPS or GIS

Detailed accounting of Detailed accounting of

all treesall trees

Time consuming and Time consuming and

more costlymore costly

Most AccurateMost Accurate

Complete Inventory - Complete Inventory - ContinuousContinuous

All trees are inventoriedAll trees are inventoried

Computer based, often Computer based, often

linked to GIS andlinked to GIS and

Continuously maintained Continuously maintained

by updatingby updating

Filed work orders related Filed work orders related

to inventory databaseto inventory database

Most expensive, but most Most expensive, but most

effective management tooleffective management tool

What What data to data to collect?collect?

Reports: Telling the StoryReports: Telling the Story

Reports: Information TransferReports: Information Transfer

Reports & Data AnalysisReports & Data Analysis

Reports: Telling the StoryReports: Telling the Story

Reports: Species DistributionReports: Species Distribution

Species DistributionSpecies Distribution

Reports: Planting LocationReports: Planting Location

AccuratAccuratee& & SimpleSimpleReportinReportingg

ReportingReporting

AccuratAccuratee& & SimpleSimpleReportinReportingg

Education Education and and AdvocacyAdvocacy

Example: Canopy CoverExample: Canopy Cover

Web Sharing of Inventory Web Sharing of Inventory DataData

Web Web Accessible Accessible Inventory Inventory

DataData

Windshield Surveys

By: Christopher RooneyFor: Massachusetts Tree Wardens

and Foresters association

January 22, 2003

Windshield SurveyingWindshield Surveying

Driving Roads (faster than walking)Driving Roads (faster than walking) Ideally used when locating or identifying a Ideally used when locating or identifying a

few items ex: (insects and disease problems, few items ex: (insects and disease problems, drought stress)drought stress)

Sometimes used to update traditional Sometimes used to update traditional inventory methods (windshield every year, inventory methods (windshield every year, traditional every fifth year)traditional every fifth year)

Can be used when sampling only a certain Can be used when sampling only a certain percentage of area 5%-10% percentage of area 5%-10%

Can be high or low tech (GPS or Pen and Pad)Can be high or low tech (GPS or Pen and Pad)

Who uses this method?Who uses this method?

Many Tree Wardens and City Many Tree Wardens and City ForestersForesters

currently use this methodcurrently use this method example:example:

(City of Cincinnati Foresters used a (City of Cincinnati Foresters used a volunteer's convertible to complete one)volunteer's convertible to complete one)

Who uses this method? Who uses this method? ((con’tcon’t))

Utility Utility ArboristsArborists

((looking at clearance looking at clearance distancesdistances))

Can a windshield survey be Can a windshield survey be used for identifying used for identifying

hazardous conditions in hazardous conditions in trees?trees?

It is recommended to It is recommended to inspect trees yearly for inspect trees yearly for hazardous conditions: hazardous conditions: Why?Why?

1. Conditions constantly1. Conditions constantly

changechange

2. To help prioritize work2. To help prioritize work

3. To reduce the3. To reduce the

community’s liability community’s liability

With current financial With current financial woes municipalities need woes municipalities need cost effective methodscost effective methods

Case study: South Kingstown, Case study: South Kingstown, RIRI

•Part time tree warden

•148 miles of town maintained roads and right of ways

•Estimated 15,000 trees under tree warden’s control

•Annual tree budget of $42,000 * includes salary of tree warden

Town’s Options To Inspect Town’s Options To Inspect TreesTrees

No action (lawsuits)No action (lawsuits) CT lawsuitCT lawsuit Thorough inspection Thorough inspection Great but:Great but: Not cost effective $Not cost effective $

Windshield survey: Windshield survey: the option chosenthe option chosen will hopefully save will hopefully save

time and moneytime and money

How a windshield survey is How a windshield survey is conducted: our case studyconducted: our case study

For Public and your For Public and your Safety Safety

UseUse Hazard lightsHazard lights Reflective triangleReflective triangle on tailgateon tailgate

Every town roadEvery town road

Conduct when leaves Conduct when leaves are off trees to locate are off trees to locate conditions easierconditions easier

Driving Up and Down Driving Up and Down each roadeach road

Depends upon densityDepends upon density

What are we looking for?What are we looking for?

Weak ForksWeak Forks

CavitiesCavities

DeadwoodDeadwood

Other conditions: Other conditions: Cracks, Dieback, Cracks, Dieback,

12 Point Hazard Rating System12 Point Hazard Rating System 1-3 Points for Target1-3 Points for Target 3 Points for House or 3 Phase3 Points for House or 3 Phase

1 Point for rural fence1 Point for rural fence

1-4 Points for Size of Defect1-4 Points for Size of Defect Small deadwood 1Small deadwood 1

Leader or tree 4 Leader or tree 4

1-3 Points Probability of Failure1-3 Points Probability of Failure 3 Points for large amount of decay3 Points for large amount of decay 1 Point for minor1 Point for minor

0-2 Points For Tree Type0-2 Points For Tree Type 0 Points for White Oak 0 Points for White Oak 2 Points for Silver Maple2 Points for Silver Maple

Use the 12 Pt systemto identify conditionsand Prevent Sights like this

ExampleExample Target: High School Target: High School Parking Lot: 3 PointsParking Lot: 3 Points

Defective Part:Defective Part: Leaders 4 PointsLeaders 4 Points

Probability of Failure:Probability of Failure: Extensive decay Extensive decay 3 Points3 Points

Tree Type: Tree Type: Norway Maple 1 PointNorway Maple 1 Point

Add up pointsAdd up points Total =11 PointsTotal =11 Points

Once hazardous condition is Once hazardous condition is found, what next? found, what next?

Record the Record the accurate locationaccurate location

Could be:Could be:1)1) House NumberHouse Number2)2) Pole NumberPole Number3)3) GPS PointsGPS Points To make accurate To make accurate

mapsmaps

Record the targetRecord the target Wires, road, Wires, road,

schoolschool

End resultsEnd results

List of hazardous conditions List of hazardous conditions located from worst to mildest caseslocated from worst to mildest cases

Start Working on the 12, 11, 10 Start Working on the 12, 11, 10 scored Conditions FIRST!scored Conditions FIRST!

Target ID can help create Target ID can help create partnershipspartnerships

You now have a systematic You now have a systematic hazardous tree identification hazardous tree identification programprogram

Things to ConsiderThings to Consider

How well does it locate these How well does it locate these hazards?hazards?

Obvious ones-vs.-Hidden onesObvious ones-vs.-Hidden ones

Our study will be complete this Our study will be complete this summersummer

When in doubt, get out of the truck When in doubt, get out of the truck and take a closer lookand take a closer look

StreamliningStreamliningData Collection & ManagementData Collection & Management

Computer databasesComputer databases

Personal Digital Assistants Personal Digital Assistants

(PDAs)(PDAs)

Geographic information Geographic information

Systems (GIS)Systems (GIS)

Global Positioning Systems Global Positioning Systems

(GIS)(GIS)

MCTI: An Integrated MCTI: An Integrated System for Tree System for Tree

InventoriesInventories

MCTI - Flexible ImplementationMCTI - Flexible Implementation

Paper field data Paper field data

collection collection

Computerized desktop Computerized desktop

databasedatabase

PDA field data collection PDA field data collection

and sync to databaseand sync to database

Getting Started Getting Started Method 1 (paper)Method 1 (paper)

Download Inventory ManualDownload Inventory Manual

Print Paper Tally SheetsPrint Paper Tally Sheets

http://www.umass.edu/urbantree/palm http://www.umass.edu/urbantree/palm

Paper Tally SheetPaper Tally Sheet

Getting Started Getting Started Method 2 (Computer)Method 2 (Computer)

Requires a PC (Windows 95 or newer)Requires a PC (Windows 95 or newer)

Install Software (Free download via Install Software (Free download via the Internetthe Internet

Data entry at your desktopData entry at your desktop

Customizing MCTICustomizing MCTI

List of individual surveyorsList of individual surveyors

Choose selected Tree Species for your Choose selected Tree Species for your

towntown

Enter community ID (each town has a Enter community ID (each town has a

unique identifier number)unique identifier number)

Data Data Entry Entry Using a Using a Personal Personal ComputeComputerr

Data Data Archiving Archiving Using a Using a Personal Personal ComputeComputerr

Getting Started Getting Started Method 3 (Computer and Method 3 (Computer and

PDA)PDA) Requires a PC (Windows 95 or newer)Requires a PC (Windows 95 or newer)

Requires PDA (i.e., Palm Pilot $100-Requires PDA (i.e., Palm Pilot $100-

$450)$450)

Install Software (Free, via Internet Install Software (Free, via Internet

download at the following internet download at the following internet

site -site -

http://www.umass.edu/urbantree/mctihttp://www.umass.edu/urbantree/mcti

Getting Started Getting Started Method 3 (Computer and Method 3 (Computer and

PDA)PDA) PDA increases PDA increases

efficiencyefficiency

Reduction in data Reduction in data

entry errorsentry errors

Simple and fast Simple and fast

method for data method for data

collectioncollection

PDA Log On PDA Log On ScreenScreen

PDA PDA Data Data Entry Entry ScreenScreen

MCTI - Phase IIMCTI - Phase II

Development currently underway

Operational planning & implementation

Customer database, work order generation and tracking, and inventory updates

PDA, paper and barcode systems

Field testing in Worcester, MA, Burlington, VT and Springfield, MA

Release in August 2003

Web DistributionWeb Distribution

Other Inventory ResourcesOther Inventory Resources

Pendragon Forms Data Collection Templates

Cornell Coop Extension Access® Database

Sate of Vermont Access® Database

Commercial Software Systems

Pendragon Forms TemplatesPendragon Forms Templates

Developed freeware inventory templates for use with Palm® Pilot handheld PDA’s

Can be used for variety of inventory applications - street, park, golf course, etc.

Tree Condition & Management Needs

Hazard Assessment

Based on Pendragon Forms® interface


Utilized for ease of programming and customization


Inventory, Hazard Assessment, Damage Assessment and Tree Valuation


www.umass.edu/urbantree/palm

Tree Inventories: in the Tree Inventories: in the palm of your handpalm of your hand

www.umass.edu/urbantree/

For More InformationFor More Information

Contact: Contact:

Dave Bloniarz, USDA Forest ServiceDave Bloniarz, USDA Forest Service

Web site Web site

www.umass.edu/urbantreewww.umass.edu/urbantree

E-mailE-mail

[email protected]@fs.fed.us

www.umass.edu/www.umass.edu/urbantreeurbantree

Any questions?Any questions?

david bloniarz, usda forest service christopher rooney, univ. of massachusetts/amherst tree...

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