2. Today Paula i-Tree—more than Eco and Streets Update on new Tree Carbon Calculator (Google Maps interface) Kelaine Smart phone apps for tree lovers GreenprintMaps and upgrades to the Urban Forest Map Family Up and coming technology
3. i-Tree Lesser Known Tools Applications Hydro Vue Design (web) Canopy (web) Utilities Species IPED Pest Storm
7. Observations of 1st Time User (and creators) Starting point Nothing re structural, etc Local input 1600 sp. Natives and exotics Hardiness caveats Basic ecosystem services
8. i-Tree Vue Uses National Land Cover Data (NLCD) maps Assesses cover types Some ecosystem services Model effects of change in cover Imagery Manual
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10. Go back to program Browse to layers Load Select state (loads default pollution removal values assoc with trees Or select iTree Eco To define specific area, check box next to that option
25. 1st Time User Observations Cons Pros Accuracy depends on your classification skills Adequate number of points Quality of Google imagery Tedious Cheap Could use to inform Vue Accurate if done well Excellent tool for neighborhood planting /issues along with Vue
26. Cal Fire-USFS Canopy Study Urban canopy cover for California Pilot started – San Jose Determine remote sensing approach Apply to other communities Scale up to state Update every 5 years Free NAIP imagery
32. Tree Carbon Calculator Stand alone product EcoLayers version Forecast future carbon reductions and emissions for tree populations Calculate current effects for annual reporting/certification Public vs enterprise customers
33. Public Customer Manual input Outline parcel, house Locate and ID multiple trees Enter species, planting date or size Ability to adjust growth curves based on difference in measured size Carbon stored, annual, avoided, energy Cannot project future benefits
34. Enterprise Customer Bulk data import Enter a project (minimum 1000 trees for CAR)—Excel/Access format Planting schedules Mortality schedules Future projections No energy benefits this version
35. Timeline Implementing population projections and outputs Alpha-test—Feb. 1, 2012 Beta-test, revision and deployment June 20, 2012
Let’s visit i-Tree Species first. This one is pretty much in the no-brainer class. Download the itree application package and load it on your computer, then simply go to the itree species app and this first screen is what pops up.Species are selected based on hardiness zone, mature height and 8 environmental factorsEnter your country, State and City and the County fills itself.Next enter the minimum and maximum tree heights you are interested in in either metric or english units.Finally, comes what’s important to you as far as the level of ecosystem services the tree will supply.Here I’ve decided that I want the tree to supply an average amount of air pollutant removal, the same for emissions. But I’m very interested in having non-allergenic trees and reducing energy costs around the house where I’ll install the tree.Choose whether you want to see just the top 10% of the trees or all and click on view report.
Species are selected based on hardiness zone, mature height and 8 environmental factors
Some hardiness estimates didn’t always match the USDA Hardiness zone ranges, so extrapolations were made to the closest hardiness zone.
i-Tree Vue is also accessed through the itree application you download on your computer.It uses free easily downloadable national land cover data maps to assess canopy and other land cover typesYou can use it to model some ecosystem services provided by the current urban forestKey areas for help in downloading imagery is this button and I recommend using the manual—you can’t go wrong if you follow it.
The window allows you to zoom in on your area of interestHere I’m zooming in on Sacramento and West Sacramento areaZooming in further, then cOnce you’ve launched the land cover program you have to download each cover layer to your computer.And then go to each of those folders and unzip them.licking over here on the Land Cover layers I want.
Loaded, this is what you project looks like.
The program allows you to test future scenarios by adjusting tree canopy percentages
For a more precise estimate of canopy and other cover types, you can use the web-based tool i-Tree Canopy.Access it via itreetools website rather than needing load a program on your computer.Essentially this program allows you to conduct your own cover analysis for any area of your community---but it is a rather tedious process for large areas because for increased accuracy you need to identify a minimum of 500 to 1000 data points.Relatively simple to use as long as you have an esri polygon shape file dilineating your area of interest – if you don’t have that capability or someone can create that for you, the program is unusable.
Here I’ve imported a polygon shape file around part of Palo Alto and I’m ready to configure my survey – what types of cover do I want to classify?
It can be as simple as tree and non-tree---the default or you can add more cover typesUltimately I ended up with 6 types –could have been more if I had things like agricultural land, water, and so forth. And you should get to know your area somewhat beforehand so that you choose all the cover classifications there may be.
Once you say you’re done adding cover types, you go back to Step 3 – Begin i-Tree Canopy Survey.This can be the tedious part.The program randomly selects points throughout your polygon –the first window pops up and you have to add a point –this window then pops up with a default tree, but if it’s not a tree you click inside the cover class and select the appropriate tree cover at that spot.
Makes a difference to have enough data points
Here I’ve started adding info about the tree in my front yard.I want energy effects so checked the box and am given directions for outlining the conditioned space of the house, what era my house was built in and the center of my tree.
Stand alone product that 3rd party companies and organizations can access and incorporate into their products for freeEcoLayers version which will be integrated into their international web-based products
