Overview of iTree Software Tools

1

• Overview of iTree Software Tools
• Michael Knapp
• Director, Urban Forest Management Division
• Fairfax County, Virginia
• michael.knapp_at_fairfaxcounty.gov
• 703-324-1729

2
Overview of Overview

• iTree Software Suite
• UFORE
• MCTI
• SDAP
• On-line Resources

3
UFORE

• UFORE
• Urban Forest Effects Model
• Developed by USDA Forest Service's Northeastern
  Research Station
• Calculates
• structure
• environmental effects
• values

4
UFORE

• UFORE
• Allows users to collect data an urban forest
• And to estimate ecosystem services that resource
  provides

5
Hmmmsounds like STRATUM!

• Similarities
• Similar outcomes
• Structure, function, value
• Implications for management
• Similar goals
• Advocates for management/conservation
• Differences
• Different tree populations
• STRATUM focus on street trees
• UFORE focus on the whole urban forest

6
UFORE What can it be used for?

• Benchmark structure
• species composition
• number of trees
• tree density
• tree health, etc
• analyzed by land-use type
• Quantify air quality benefits
• Hourly VOC emissions
• Impact on ozone/CO formation
• Carbon storage/sequestration
• Effects of trees on building energy use and
  consequent effects on CO2 emissions from power
  plants.

7
UFORE What can it be used for?

• Compensatory values
• air pollution removal
• carbon storage and sequestration
• Tree pollen allergenicity index
• Potential impact of forest pests
• Gypsy moth
• Emerald ash borer
• Asian longhorn beetle

8
UFORE - application

• Can be used on complete populations
• Statistically based sampling and data collection
  protocols for large areas

9
UFORE - data collection and process

• More complex than STRATUM
• structural / health components
• Limits use of volunteers
• Data collection more suited to professionals
• Customizable PDA Utility can be used to collect
  plot data
• Merged with local weather and air pollution
  concentration data.
• Data transferred through shell to US Forest
  Service for processing
• Customized reports returned to user

10
MCTI

• Mobile Community Tree Inventory
• David V. Bloniarz, USDA Forest Service
• Designed as a basic tree inventory application
• Allows communities to conduct tree inventories
  and to produce summary reports at various levels
  of detail and effort
• Not meant as substitute for more robust
  commercial products

11
MCTI

• MCTI
• Three-tiered inventory system enables users to
  select a level of use that matches their needs
  and comfort level
• paper inventory tally sheet
• desktop application for inputting collected data
• fully computerized system incorporating desktop
  software and i-Tree's PDA Utility

12
MCTI Paper tally sheet template
13
MCTI PC Desktop Application and PDA Utility
14
MCTI

• Variable inventory protocols
• Maintenance
• Risk tree
• Utility work
• PDA Utility data can populate STRUTUM
• Easy to use ideal for volunteers
• Inexpensive!

15
MCTI Inventories and Uses

• Profile species composition of urban forest
• Analyze condition of individual trees and of the
  entire forest
• Record information about significant trees
• Monitor planting success rates
• ID high-risk/hazard trees
• Identify budget needs
• Build public support for protecting and expanding
  urban forests
• STRATUM

16
SDAP

• Storm Damage Assessment Protocol
• Standardized method to assess widespread damage
  immediately after a sever storm
• FEMA funding
• Easy and accurate estimate of
• Tree storm damage
• Costs for recovery

17
SDAP Process Overview

• Start with Emergency Planning
• Tree Emergency Plan Worksheet
• Pre-storm setup
• Create random sample segments
• Measure tree density and size class within and 50
  feet outside of ROW
• Finalize Pre-storm report
• Store for future storms

18
Reference data

• Tiger Line Data can be used for generating random
  segment samples
• 2 of blocksides
• Trees 10 minimum, 30 maximum per block
• Recommended that data collection be conducted by
  professional foresters/arborists

19
SDAP Data Processing

• Data collection
• Paper forms
• PDA
• Desktop Interface
• Manage Users
• Community Values
• Reference Data
• ROW Info
• Export Data

20
Post Storm
21
Post-storm work

• Revisit sample segments
• Debris choose estimation method
• Indirect by average crown loss class
• Direct as Cubic Yards of debris
• Trees within ROW
• Hazard pruning by size class
• Hazard removal by size class
• Enter data, report results
• Check in mail!

22
SDAP Validity

• Tested for ice storms
• Low variance
• 2 sample got within 5 of true value in field
  test
• Not tested for wind storms
• Larger variance
• May affect required sample size

23
www.itreetools.org

• Resource/Learning Center
• Support
• E-mail support info_at_itreetools.org
• Phone [phone] (toll-free)
• Customer service staff is available Monday
  through Friday between
• 0830 AM to 1200 PM (EST)
• 100 PM to 430 PM (EST)
• User Forum great place to get answers

24
www.itreetools.org