[CANUFNET] CANUFNET Digest, Vol 111, Issue 7

[Aven, Neal]

Answers to your questions from the City of Surrey...

1.) What platform/system does your city use to manage its trees?
A.) We implemented CityWorks asset management software by Azteca in March 2013.

2.) Is your city's tree database managed through an in-house program or through software developed by an external company or organization?
A.) The software is developed by an external company (Azteca).   The database is managed by our IT Department, GIS Section, and Parks Division (including Urban Forestry section).

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?
A.) Yes to all of the above attributes.  Plus the ability add additional attributes as required.

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)?
A.) Yes.  The tree inventory database used by CityWorks is our GIS database (ArcGIS).  All work orders and service requests are spatially located as well.

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?
A.) Essentially, CityWorks "sits on top" of the ArcGIS database (the GIS is the foundation of the inventory that is used in CityWorks).  CityWorks is our work management system (work orders, service requests, preventive maintenance schedules, etc) and is integrated to our Financial System.

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?
A.) Yes, our arborists have access to CityWorks in the field using tablets.  We can respond and generate service requests and work orders in the field.

7.) Do you use GPS equipment in the field to manage tree inspections and correctly position your city's trees?
A.) We are not using GPS, rather we do 'heads-up' digitizing onto aerial photos to place new trees into ArcGIS and to adjust 'misplaced' trees.  For new inventory, this is accomplished either using a tablet (if available) or we use hard copy aerial photo maps in the field to spatially place each new tree, then bring the maps back to the office and digitize the data into ArcGIS (including attributes).  Keeping the inventory accurate is a constant task and staff will adjust tree positions as they come across 'misplaced' 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?
A.) As noted above, CityWorks (and ArcGIS) is managed by our IT Department, GIS Section, and Parks Division (including Urban Forestry section).  Generally, troubleshooting and development are carried out by IT and GIS (in collaboration with Parks / Urban Forestry).  Initial training was carried out by IT and GIS, but now Parks staff (and Urban Forestry arborists) train our new users/staff.

9.) Are any of the three abovementioned aspects a problem in your municipality at the moment?
A.) Like any large software implementation, there were (and are still) challenges.  We continue to work through items like data errors/clean-up that arose through migration from our previous work management system, communication problems on the tablets, limited reporting ability, and staff getting used to new software and processes.  In general, approximately 1 year after implementation, things are running well and we look forward to expanding our mobile use of CityWorks.

Cheers,
Neal

-----Original Message-----
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Sent: April-28-14 9:00 AM
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Subject: CANUFNET Digest, Vol 111, Issue 7

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Today's Topics:

   1. FW: In-house Tree Management Databases and Big Cities
      (Meagan Hanna, Miss)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 17:29:20 +0000
From: "Meagan Hanna, Miss" <meagan.hanna at mail.mcgill.ca>
To: "CANUFNET at list.web.net" <CANUFNET at list.web.net>
Subject: [CANUFNET] FW: In-house Tree Management Databases and Big
	Cities
Message-ID:
	<4F0FFA18489B184F9D8DD6061B75D6851082D43A at EXMBX2010-5.campus.MCGILL.CA>
	
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


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
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