[CANUFNET] FW: In-house Tree Management Databases and Big Cities

Mon Apr 28 14:47:12 EDT 2014

Hi Meagan,

Briefly from City of Abbotsford;

I would like to predicate this with the fact that I am not a
Geotech...so if any of the geomatic information sounds slightly off,
perhaps it is, because I am just a tree guy.   I am the end user of the
Asset Inventory/Management tool, not the creator.  

1)    TreeKeeper 7 from Davey Resource Group. 

2)    Developed by Davey but customizable internally due to the ability
to choose the attributes that we wish to collect.  

3)    Both...we input location, species, DBH, utility etc. and then use
it to track and produce work orders as per the information we input.
For example, it produces work orders for pruning based on the date of
installation (1, 3, 5, 7 year cycle).  We can alter this cycle by
species or location if they require more or less attention.  

4)    There is a spatial map that is created by Davey.  We forward our
shape files, including an aerial photo yearly to Davey to upgrade the
spatial map.  The files we include contain house numbers, street names,
city grid lines, park boundaries etc.

5)    Our inventory is integrated (duplicated) onto our internal mapping
system as an attribute on arcview.  It is accessible to view by anyone
who has access to arcview, but only Urban Forestry staff, via TreeKeeper
have access to the actual information regarding species etc.  The view
of our inventory on arcview shows location only.  Few members of our
staff have editing abilities on TreeKeeper to ensure there is no
corruption of our data.

6)    We use Panasonic TOUGHPADS in the field and they are fantastic.
We test drove IPads but they were not Microsoft compatible for the Davey
TreeKeeper platform (a separate cost was required).  We typically only
access TreeKeeper in the field to input new installations or check
inventory/ownership/property lines, but any application offered by the
platform could be used if desired.

7)    The spatial map on our TOUGHPADS is very accurate.  By placing the
cursor on the map for tree location, an x-y co-ordinate is created on
TreeKeeper as an attribute.  This can be used as a measure of location
if so desired, but we typically use street address with side or front
placement.  

8)    Urban Forestry staff, particularly the Street Tree/Park Tree
section utilize the program.  We are the editors of the information that
is stored in the Davey Resource system.  Our Geomatic department meshes
with Davey to provide them our shape files.  We train internally with
assistance via conference call with Davey support staff as required.  We
choose which attributes (which do change as we find some redundant, and
others helpful) to include, and are always looking to make things more
stream lined and relevant.  

9)    We have looked at bringing the whole program internal with the
help from IT and geomatics.  This would allow us to customize our own
program as we already have all the tools available.  I maybe speaking
out of line, but I feel sometimes that our geomatic department is not as
helpful as they could be. I believe they would like to host this on
their own platform and control the information that is being meted out.
It makes sense to utilize an internal program, and have the data
available to all.  The cost to lease the program from Davey would have
to be compared to salary dollars required to have internal staff create,
monitor and update the platform as required.  This would reduce some
duplication of data that currently exists.

>From the 'Sunny' left coast....

Ken Snowden

Arbourist II

Parks, Recreation & Culture 

Urban Forestry Section

Tel: 604-853 5485 ext. 5886

Cell: 604-626 3945

'A man does not plant a tree for himself; he plants it for posterity'

Alexander Smith

From: CANUFNET [mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] On Behalf Of
Sherry Boerefyn
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2014 7:25 AM
To: CANUFNET at list.web.net; meagan.hanna at mail.mcgill.ca
Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] FW: In-house Tree Management Databases and Big
Cities

Hi Meagan,

Here's an answer from The City of Edmonton.

1) We use a program called GEO Media to input data onto the City's
spacial map. GEO Media is similar to ArcView. We are just starting to
use Davey Tree Keeper as well as a work management tool.

2) GEO Media and Davey Tree Keeper were both developed by outside, but
were customized by or IT Department.

3) The attributes collected are customizable. We collect Species,
location DBH and other things last pruned date, date planted and near by
utilities. You can customize both programs to suite your needs.

4) Both programs use spatial maps and we add our aerial photos. We use
these photos to populate the tree location. We find that works as well
as GPS.

5) Our data is accessible to all GEO Media users in the city, but 311 is
not a user. It could be accessed on our Open Data site by anyone,
including the public.

6) Geo Media is accessed in the field by the Tree Inventory staff. Davey
Tree Keeper can be accessed by all City staff with wifi and a login to
our page. The Inventory team prefers a laptop and others use tablets
like iPad.

7) No GPS. But you can use it for populating data if you like with GEO
Media.

8) Our IT department is responsible for all things GEO Media in
Edmonton. The areas using the program train their users. We are mandated
to load all data onto a SLIM map. We all have read access to each
other's data. Davey Tree Keeper IT dept. worked with ours to mesh up the
attributes.

9) Over the past 3 years we have sometimes struggled to get our projects
done with the huge volume of work our IT dept. handles. Sometimes, what
they wanted to charge us was outside our tiny Forestry budget. But
generally out IT people work hard to get us what we need. Davey Tree
Keeper staff are very available. 

The reason we are using 2 systems (data is synced each night) is for
their different abilities. GEO Media has the ability to run multiple
queries of data at the same time and you can create maps on it. Davey is
more of a work management system. They also have a new app that looks
promising for field staff.

Hope that helps.

On Mon, Apr 28, 2014 at 7:32 AM, Jeannette Wheeler <
jeannette.wheeler at edmonton.ca> wrote:

Hi Sherry,

Hope you had a good weekend, can you respond back on.

Thank you

Jenny Wheeler P.Biol. 

Principal of Forestry

ISA Certified Municipal Arborist

780-442-0224

We Do As We Say

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Meagan Hanna, Miss <meagan.hanna at mail.mcgill.ca>
Date: Sat, Apr 26, 2014 at 11:29 AM
Subject: [CANUFNET] FW: In-house Tree Management Databases and Big
Cities
To: "CANUFNET at list.web.net" <CANUFNET at list.web.net>

Greetings all, 

I see that Jessica Tivy had recently put out a question on tree
inventory technology and trends in Canada. I actually have a similar
inquiry of my own. In fact, I have a set of precise questions about tree
inventories in large Canadian (and American, for any neighbours on the
line) cities. I am hoping to touch base with a few municipal
practitioners with the goal of obtaining more information on how large
cities manage their trees. 

To be brief, I would like to draw some comparisons between the City of
Montreal's in-house, Oracle system and tree databases from other big
cities. To achieve this, I am interested in discussing specific programs
with you. I am on the look-out for resource people who wouldn't mind
offering some time for an email or telephone call. 

If you're feeling generous, you may contact me directly by email at 
meagan.hanna at mail.mcgill.ca. Alternatively, if you feel some of this
info could be useful for all, feel free to share your comments with the
group.

My questions are as follows :

1) What platform/system does your city use to manage its trees? 

2) Is your city's tree database managed through an in-house program or
through software developed by an external company or organization? 

3) Does this program cover location, species, size class and other
characteristics only or do you use it to manage your work orders,
services requests and summaries of activities as well?

4)  Is there a geo-spatial component too? (ex: can you position and view
your city's trees on a spatial database/computer-based map)?

5) Is your tree inventory kept in a stand alone program or is this
information integrated with other programs such as your city's mapping
data, asset management system or work management system (311 call log,
service request follow-up etc.) ? Basically, does your tree database
interface with other programs or is it independent from all?

6) Do your city's inspectors, arborists or foresters have access to the
database while in the field through a portable computer, tablet or other
device? If so, can you respond to citizen requests and generate work
orders in the field or do you have to complete those steps and close
your ticket once back at the office? 

7) Do you use GPS equipment in the field to manage tree inspections and
correctly position your city's trees?

 If you have gotten this far, first off thank you so much! 

8) Second, if your city uses software to manage its trees, I would love
to know how your city manages this program. Which department(s) is (are)
responsible for training, troubleshooting and development?  

9) Are any of the three abovementioned aspects a problem in your
municipality at the moment? 

I know this email was a whopper. Thanks for taking the time to read it.
I am looking forward to your feedback and hope to be in touch with you.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Meg

Meagan Hanna

Technical Officer - Horticulture and Arboriculture

City of Montreal

Work email : meagan.hanna at ville.montreal.qc.ca
Personal email : meagan.hanna at mail.mcgill.ca

-- 

Sherry Boerefyn, LAT

Tree Inventory Coordinator

Forestry, Beautification & Environmental Services

(780) 496-4693 <tel:%28780%29%20496-4693> 

We are proud to serve the public.

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