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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Database Development – 1930’s

6. Database Development – 2010

8. Specific Database Development – Hazard/Risk Inventory

9. Mapping Tools – early 20 th Century

10. Mapping Development - 2010

11. Integrated Data Management

12. Web-Based/Cloud Computing

14. Interactive Web-Based Social Data Mining

16. Management, Planning & Inventory Planning

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. The Planning Process

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. Types of Inventories

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

41. Species Distribution Condition Pruning Type Summarize the Findings

42. Use Maps & Photos GIS Map Air Photo w/ canopy

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

44. 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

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

46. 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

47. Oh, No… not this again!

48. 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?

49. 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 http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org /land/forestry/Publications/ INDEX.HTM#ucf Vermont http://www.state.vt.us/anr/ fpr/forestry/ucf/home/Library.html

50. Other Planning Resources ISA Online http://www2.champaign.isa- arbor.com/ Cambridge, MA http://ourworld.compuserve.com /homepages/DoanePerry/

51. 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

52. 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

53. Projected Budget Estimates Crown Cleaning - 500 trees @ $100 each $50,000 Crown Lifting - 300 trees @ $55 each$16,500 Crown Reduction - 120 trees @ $95 each $11,400 Removal - 20 trees @ $400 each$8,000 Stumps - 45 stumps @ $175 each$7,875 Vacant planting sites 125 @ $350 each $43,750 TOTAL$137,525 Based on Inventory Data

54. 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

55. 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

56. Fiscal Valuation Size Size Species Species Condition Condition Location Location

57. 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 http://www.umass.edu/urbantree/ profileval.shtml

58. 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

59. Environmental Values

60. 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

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

62. 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

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

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

65. Inventory Resources Tree Assessment Tools

66. 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

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

68. Inventory Resources GPS Unit

69. Inventory Resources Paper or Electronic

71. Software – General Use

72. Software – Tree Inventory Specific

74. Software – GIS Based

75. What data to collect?

77. Strategic

79. Tactical

81. Structure Function Value Management Needs

82. Storm Damage Assessment

84. Risk Tree – Hazard Tree Inventory

92. David V. Bloniarz USDA Forest Service dbloniarz@fs.fed.us www.unri.org PowerPoint Replay or Download http://www.unri.org/research-documents/