David V. Bloniarz Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service Tree Inventories: Keeping it Simple & Affordable A Basic Primer – Tools, Techniques & Application

Key Topics for this Presentation Intro to Inventories The Planning Cycle Inventory Types Inventory Resources i-Tree Storm Damage Assessment Risk Tree Assessment

Inventory Overview What is a tree inventory? What is a tree inventory? Why is a tree inventory important? Why is a tree inventory important? How is a tree inventory conducted? How is a tree inventory conducted? What can we learn from a tree inventory? What can we learn from a tree inventory? What are the opportunities for tree inventory? What are the opportunities for tree inventory? Commercial Commercial Municipal Municipal Private Residential Private Residential Recreation - Golf Course, Ski, Sports Facilities Recreation - Golf Course, Ski, Sports Facilities Other Open Space Other Open Space

Why is a tree inventory important? First step in effective landscape tree management First step in effective landscape tree management Creates the baseline for setting management objectives Creates the baseline for setting management objectives Resource for creating plan to meet management objectives Resource for creating plan to meet management objectives Provides information to educate and persuade customers and constituents Provides information to educate and persuade customers and constituents Provides data to justify maintenance recommendations and contract estimates Provides data to justify maintenance recommendations and contract estimates

Database Development – 1930’s

Database Development – 2010

Specific Database Development – Hazard/Risk Inventory

Mapping Tools – early 20 th Century

Mapping Development

Integrated Data Management

Web-Based/Cloud Computing

Interactive Web-Based Social Data Mining

Management, Planning & Inventory Planning

Managing the Green Methods are variable Methods are variable Individual opportunities Individual opportunities Common concepts Common concepts Shifting priorities Shifting priorities Planning Guidelines Planning Guidelines Managed Landscapes

Street Trees Street Trees Commercial Properties Commercial Properties Individual Residential Property Individual Residential Property Recreation Areas – Golf, ski, sports facilities Recreation Areas – Golf, ski, sports facilities ublic Facilities ublic Facilities Schools Schools Conservation Land Conservation Land Other Open Space Other Open Space Managed Landscapes

Planning Steps Step 1: Vision Step 1: Vision Step 2: Assessment Step 2: Assessment Step 3: Strategic Planning Step 3: Strategic Planning Step 4: Annual Work Plan Step 4: Annual Work Plan Step 5: Evaluation Step 5: Evaluation Results in a Successful and Sustainable Program

The Planning Process

Planning Steps Step 1: Vision Step 1: Vision Where You Want to Go Where You Want to Go Includes Strategic Goal Includes Strategic Goal May be a Mission Statement May be a Mission Statement Step 1: Vision Step 2: Assessment Step 3: Strategic Planning Step 4: Annual Work Plan Step 5: Evaluation

Planning Steps Step 2: Assessment Step 2: Assessment What We Have - The Inventory What We Have - The Inventory Sample or Complete Type Sample or Complete Type Identifies and Quantifies the Resource Identifies and Quantifies the Resource Step 1: Vision Step 2: Assessment Step 3: Strategic Planning Step 4: Annual Work Plan Step 5: Evaluation

Planning Steps Step 3: Strategic Planning Step 3: Strategic Planning How to Close the Gap How to Close the Gap Steps to Take Steps to Take Prioritization of Efforts Prioritization of Efforts Budgeting - Time & Resources Budgeting - Time & Resources Step 1: Vision Step 2: Assessment Step 3: Strategic Planning Step 4: Annual Work Plan Step 5: Evaluation

Planning Steps Step 4: Annual Work Plan Step 4: Annual Work Plan Getting the Job Done Getting the Job Done Tasks & Activities Tasks & Activities Includes Partnerships, Education, Management and Planting Includes Partnerships, Education, Management and Planting Budgeting - Staff and Resources Budgeting - Staff and Resources Step 1: Vision Step 2: Assessment Step 3: Strategic Planning Step 4: Annual Work Plan Step 5: Evaluation

Planning Steps Step 5: Evaluation Step 5: Evaluation Did it get Done? Did it get Done? How Did You Do? How Did You Do? Justification for Increases - Funding, Staffing & Support Justification for Increases - Funding, Staffing & Support Important Step, but Often Not Completed Important Step, but Often Not Completed Step 1: Vision Step 2: Assessment Step 3: Strategic Planning Step 4: Annual Work Plan Step 5: Evaluation

Key Component - An Inventory Step 1: Vision Step 1: Vision Step 2: Assessment Step 2: Assessment Step 3: Strategic Planning Step 3: Strategic Planning Step 4: Annual Work Plan Step 4: Annual Work Plan Step 5: Evaluation Step 5: Evaluation Providing a Baseline

Inventory Planning Determine the purpose of the tree inventory Determine the purpose of the tree inventory Determine the data needed to meet that purpose Determine the data needed to meet that purpose Determine the resources needed to collect the data Determine the resources needed to collect the data

Types of Inventories

Specific Problem Inventory Related to only one problem Related to only one problem Limited to one problem rather than broad management Limited to one problem rather than broad management Asian Longhorned Beetle Asian Longhorned Beetle Dutch Elm Disease Dutch Elm Disease

Park and Natural Areas Manicured Parks - Trees are individually inventoried Manicured Parks - Trees are individually inventoried Natural Areas - Sampling, typing or grouping Natural Areas - Sampling, typing or grouping Utilization of GIS, GPS and remote sensing Utilization of GIS, GPS and remote sensing

Recreation Areas Golf Courses - Trees are individually inventoried Golf Courses - Trees are individually inventoried Ski Areas - Trees are individually inventoried Ski Areas - Trees are individually inventoried Hiking Trails, Campgrounds, Picnic Areas Hiking Trails, Campgrounds, Picnic Areas Utilization of GIS, GPS and remote sensing Utilization of GIS, GPS and remote sensing

Landscaped Properties Small Residential - Trees are individually inventoried Small Residential - Trees are individually inventoried Estate - Sampling, typing or grouping Estate - Sampling, typing or grouping Corporate/Commercial Facilities - Utilization of GIS, GPS and remote sensing Corporate/Commercial Facilities - Utilization of GIS, GPS and remote sensing

Cover Type Survey Utilizes aerial photos Utilizes aerial photos Quantifies canopy extend Quantifies canopy extend Monitoring of trends, patterns and changes Monitoring of trends, patterns and changes Useful for planning new construction - protection zones; energy savings potential Useful for planning new construction - protection zones; energy savings potential

Sampling Method Inexpensive and quick Inexpensive and quick Requires random sample Requires random sample Assists in developing whole and accurate profiles of the population Assists in developing whole and accurate profiles of the population May require stratification or grouping of land-use types May require stratification or grouping of land-use types

Windshield Survey Gathers more info than the Specific Problem Inventory Gathers more info than the Specific Problem Inventory Relatively inexpensive and quick to complete Relatively inexpensive and quick to complete Can be ongoing Can be ongoing Less precise than individual inspection Less precise than individual inspection Ideal for inspection following storm events Ideal for inspection following storm events

Complete Inventory - Periodic All trees are inventoried All trees are inventoried Location is recorded by address, GPS or GIS Location is recorded by address, GPS or GIS Detailed accounting of all trees Detailed accounting of all trees Time consuming and more costly Time consuming and more costly Most Accurate Most Accurate

Complete Inventory - Continuous All trees are inventoried All trees are inventoried Computer based, often linked to GIS and Computer based, often linked to GIS and Continuously maintained by updating Continuously maintained by updating Filed work orders related to inventory database Filed work orders related to inventory database Most expensive, but most effective management tool Most expensive, but most effective management tool

Tree City USA Bulletin #23 Tree City USA Bulletin #23 National Arbor Day Foundation publication National Arbor Day Foundation publication Valuable summary and recap of key concepts Valuable summary and recap of key concepts Street Tree Inventories Street Tree Inventories

Key Uses of Inventory Data Planning Planning Operational Planning Operational Planning Strategic Planning Strategic Planning Hazard Identification Hazard Identification Prioritizing Tasks Prioritizing Tasks Budgeting Budgeting Valuation Valuation Monitoring Monitoring Education Education

Summarize the Data Species Distribution Species Distribution Age Class Distribution (Size) Age Class Distribution (Size) Overall Condition Overall Condition Management Needs Management Needs Structural Conditions - Weak forks, cavities Structural Conditions - Weak forks, cavities Planting Location Planting Location Utilities Utilities Additional Information Additional Information

Species Distribution Condition Pruning Type Summarize the Findings

Use Maps & Photos GIS Map Air Photo w/ canopy

Determining Priorities Hazard removals Hazard removals Pruning Pruning Systematic maintenance Systematic maintenance Planting Planting Community partnerships Community partnerships Utility partnerships Utility partnerships

Hazard Identification Prioritized analysis Prioritized analysis Scale of community-wide impacts Scale of community-wide impacts Cost of programmed response Cost of programmed response Geographic location Geographic location Realistic cost estimate Realistic cost estimate

Education Public stakeholders Public stakeholders Policy makers Policy makers Community residents Community residents Municipal managers Municipal managers Neighborhood focus Neighborhood focus

Make Information Accessible Get the information distributed to the widest audience Get the information distributed to the widest audience Make it easy to understand Make it easy to understand Use the web Use the web

Oh, No… not this again!

Strategic Planning Long term strategies for your urban forest Long term strategies for your urban forest Includes tree inventory info as one component of broad vision Includes tree inventory info as one component of broad vision Multi-disciplinary approach to action Multi-disciplinary approach to action New planting strategy New planting strategy Where do you want to be in 3, 5, 10 years? Where do you want to be in 3, 5, 10 years?

Planning Toolkits Use guides and models Use guides and models Spend the time to develop the plan Spend the time to develop the plan Utilize data from the inventory as baseline Utilize data from the inventory as baseline Wisconsin /land/forestry/Publications/ INDEX.HTM#ucf Vermont fpr/forestry/ucf/home/Library.html

Other Planning Resources ISA Online arbor.com/ Cambridge, MA /homepages/DoanePerry/

Operational Planning Day-to-day operations Day-to-day operations Work requests, scheduling and staging Work requests, scheduling and staging Time management Time management Personnel, Equipment and coordination Personnel, Equipment and coordination Contract specifications Contract specifications Programmed planting Programmed planting

Budgeting Projected estimate of yearly operational expenses Projected estimate of yearly operational expenses Estimate of specific programming needs Estimate of specific programming needs Long-term funding strategies can be more clearly defined Long-term funding strategies can be more clearly defined

Projected Budget Estimates Crown Cleaning $100 each $50,000 Crown Lifting $55 each$16,500 Crown Reduction $95 each $11,400 Removal - 20 $400 each$8,000 Stumps - 45 $175 each$7,875 Vacant planting sites $350 each $43,750 TOTAL$137,525 Based on Inventory Data

Long Term Projected Cost of Maintenance Total Estimated Costs $137,525 Year One$ 40,000 Year One$ 40,000 Year Two$ 45,000 Year Two$ 45,000 Year Three$ 52,525 Year Three$ 52,525

Valuation Psychological and Aesthetic Values Psychological and Aesthetic Values Social Values Social Values Historic Values Historic Values Environmental Values Environmental Values Monetary Values Monetary Values Economics and Decision Making Economics and Decision Making

Fiscal Valuation Size Size Species Species Condition Condition Location Location

National Average Values Average base value of tree on urban property Average base value of tree on urban property 10” diameter - $1,729 10” diameter - $1,729 14” diameter - $3,388 14” diameter - $3,388 30” diameter - $15,554 30” diameter - $15,554 profileval.shtml

Brookline, MA n Value of Average Street Tree $2,657 n Total Number of Street Trees 10,237 n Value of Brookline’s Street Trees $27,199,709 +/- n Value of Brookline’s Urban Forest $271,997,090 +/- Brattleboro, VT n Value of Average Street Tree $3,100 New England Examples

Environmental Values

Cite Environmental Benefits 250 lower hard surface temperature under tree shade versus full sun. 250 lower hard surface temperature under tree shade versus full sun. $242 savings per home per year in cooling costs. $242 savings per home per year in cooling costs. One acre of trees transpires 1600 gal. of water and provides enough oxygen for 18 people on a sunny summer day. One acre of trees transpires 1600 gal. of water and provides enough oxygen for 18 people on a sunny summer day. A half-acre urban park can remove daily 48 lbs. of particulates, 9 lbs. of nitrogen dioxide, 6 lbs. of sulfur dioxide, and 1/2 lbs. of carbon monoxide. A half-acre urban park can remove daily 48 lbs. of particulates, 9 lbs. of nitrogen dioxide, 6 lbs. of sulfur dioxide, and 1/2 lbs. of carbon monoxide. A community forest can store 2.6 tons of carbon per acre per year A community forest can store 2.6 tons of carbon per acre per year

Historic Assessment, Value & Documentation Sense of Place Sense of Place Heritage Trees Heritage Trees Significant/Vintage Trees Significant/Vintage Trees

Monitoring Changes over time to the urban forest Changes over time to the urban forest Overall forest health Overall forest health Insect damage Insect damage Disease outbreaks Disease outbreaks Effectiveness of your programs Effectiveness of your programs

Planting New Trees Strategic direction Strategic direction Operational aspects Operational aspects Programmed planting strategy Programmed planting strategy

Species & Location Identify Vacant Sites Identify Vacant Sites Desired Species Distribution Desired Species Distribution Use Appropriate Species Use Appropriate Species

Inventory Resources Tree Assessment Tools

Inventory Resources GIS Integration Maximum Benefits Maximum Benefits Shared Data Shared Data Pre-Inventory Planning is most cost effective Pre-Inventory Planning is most cost effective Post-Inventory Strategies are expensive Post-Inventory Strategies are expensive

Inventory Resources GPS Integration Data Collection Strategies Data Collection Strategies Maximize field operations Maximize field operations Cost vs. accuracy Cost vs. accuracy

Inventory Resources GPS Unit

Inventory Resources Paper or Electronic

Software – General Use

Software – Tree Inventory Specific

Software – GIS Based

What data to collect?

Strategic

Tactical

Structure Function Value Management Needs

Storm Damage Assessment

Risk Tree – Hazard Tree Inventory

David V. Bloniarz USDA Forest Service PowerPoint Replay or Download