Urban Forest Inventory: A Primer Bill Hubbard Southern Regional Extension Forester

Introduction to urban forest inventories Definitions Definitions Purposes Purposes Uses Uses

Inventorying the Urban Forest: A Primer Introduction to urban tree inventories Introduction to urban tree inventories Tree inventory basics Tree inventory basics Conducting the street tree inventory Conducting the street tree inventory Analyzing the data Analyzing the data Using and presenting the data Using and presenting the data Related issues and opportunities Related issues and opportunities

“Urban forest inventorying” is collecting relevant information on forests within municipalities or urban areas This includes information on: This includes information on: Street trees Street trees Park and other public trees Park and other public trees Private and utility trees Private and utility trees Other forest characteristics Other forest characteristics Wildlife Wildlife Soils Soils Associated vegetation Associated vegetation Etc. Etc.

Purpose and use of street tree inventories Provides factual information on: Individual tree basis: Individual tree basis: Health Health Location Location Maintenance needs Maintenance needs Size Size Potential value Potential value Planting spaces Planting spaces other other The urban forest: The urban forest: Health Health Species diversity Species diversity Value Value Maintenance schedules Maintenance schedules Miscellaneous characteristics Miscellaneous characteristics other other

What else? Assessment of your urban forestry assets Assessment of your urban forestry assets Important step in effective green infrastructure management Important step in effective green infrastructure management Important component of the urban forest management plan Important component of the urban forest management plan Useful for education and advocacy Useful for education and advocacy Maintenance, hazard tree reduction and tree planting plans can be developed from inventory. Maintenance, hazard tree reduction and tree planting plans can be developed from inventory.

Street tree inventory basics Planning Planning Determining objectives Determining objectives Types of inventories Types of inventories Measurements taken Measurements taken Equipment needed Equipment needed Data recording options Data recording options Data storage, analysis & reporting options Data storage, analysis & reporting options

Planning is a necessity Determining objectives Determining objectives Determining the geographic and time boundaries Determining the geographic and time boundaries Determining the type of inventory Determining the type of inventory Determining the available resources Determining the available resources Preparing for the inventory Preparing for the inventory

Savannah Master Tree Plan Ensure the safety Ensure the safety Ensure the health Ensure the health Ensure the aesthetics (beauty) Ensure the aesthetics (beauty) Ensure the cost-effectiveness Ensure the cost-effectiveness Not on there --- Ensure the environmental benefits?

Types of street tree inventories Remote – e.g. canopy Remote – e.g. canopy Windshield Windshield Partial vs. complete Partial vs. complete On-the-ground On-the-ground Sample or partial Sample or partial 100% or complete 100% or complete Frequency Frequency Continuous Continuous Periodic Periodic

Conducting the inventory Logistics Logistics Who will conduct the inventory? Who will conduct the inventory? Sub-contractors Sub-contractors Staff Staff Volunteers & Interns Volunteers & Interns What will be measured? What will be measured? Collecting and storing the data Collecting and storing the data Tree Assessment Tools Tree Assessment Tools Pocket PC (PDA) Pocket PC (PDA) GPS Unit GPS Unit Desktop PC Desktop PC Software Software Quality control Quality control

Measurements Tree location Tree location Species Species Size (stem diameter, height, crown diameter) Size (stem diameter, height, crown diameter) Condition Condition Management needs Management needs Maintenance Maintenance Hazard rating Hazard rating Disorders, defects and injuries Disorders, defects and injuries Removal Removal Planting recommendations Planting recommendations Infrastructure details Infrastructure details Other Other

‘Tools of the Trade’ Distance tape Distance tape Diameter tape Diameter tape Relascope or clinometer (optional, for tree height) Relascope or clinometer (optional, for tree height) Aerial photographs Aerial photographs City maps (showing rights-of-way) City maps (showing rights-of-way) Safety equipment Safety equipment Data capture & recording equipment Data capture & recording equipment Other Other

Pre-inventory preparations Development of coding systems Development of coding systems Tree locating systems Tree locating systems Other specifications Other specifications Crew training Crew training Equipment procurement & training Equipment procurement & training Use of consultant Use of consultant

Data capture & recording options Data sheets & Spreadsheets Data sheets & Spreadsheets

Data capture & recording options Data Recorders, Pocket PC’s and PDA’s Data Recorders, Pocket PC’s and PDA’s

Data recording/analyzing options GIS & GPS GIS & GPS

Other issues Communication is key! Communication is key! Training and professionalism is essential Training and professionalism is essential Practice inventories Practice inventories Media can work both ways Media can work both ways Quality control Quality control Preplanning Preplanning

Analyzing street tree data Logistics Logistics Use of the computer Use of the computer Quality control Quality control

Using street tree data Data summaries Data summaries Urban forest management plan Urban forest management plan Proactive urban forest management strategies Proactive urban forest management strategies

Analyzing & displaying data Computer software and websites

Data summaries Condition Condition Size Size Diversity Diversity other other

Tree condition class: City of Gainesville, Florida

Size distribution: City of Gainesville, Florida

Species Diversity: City of Gainesville, Florida

Where to go for more information & assistance Your state forestry agency Your state forestry agency Your state Extension agency Your state Extension agency Private urban forestry consultants Private urban forestry consultants Private certified arborists Private certified arborists The internet The internet

An Example of Online Urban Tree Inventory Resources Urban Forestry South Urban Forestry South TRIMS Tree Inventory Software TRIMS Tree Inventory Software A Guide to Street Tree Inventory Software A Guide to Street Tree Inventory Software i-tree: Tools for Assessing & Managing Community Forests i-tree: Tools for Assessing & Managing Community Forests

Conclusions Plan the inventory Plan the inventory Conduct with care and precision Conduct with care and precision Analyze data for strategic purposes Analyze data for strategic purposes Use quality control Use quality control

Acknowledgements This publication/training was funded in full or in part by the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program as recommended by the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC).