[CANUFNET] tree protection

[via CANUFNET]

Unfortunately GPS is not accurate enough to plot trees, especially when 
landmarks that are accurately located by a surveyor aren't close by (i.e. a 
forest or large natural area).  GPS's currently available don't have the 
resolution to separate two trees that are 2 feet apart, or may be on the 
other side of a property line with 100% accuracy.  A critical point. It's a 
help but not the solution, yet.

CAD and GIS are great for plotting the data (we use both) but the locations 
need to be accurate to start with. The days of drawing-in a dot by hand on a 
site plan are gone.

Stephen Smith
ISA Certified Arborist, Urban Forester
Urban Forest Associates Inc.
-----Original Message----- 
From: Julian Dunster via CANUFNET
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2017 11:56 AM
To: Michael Richardson ; Canadian Urban Forest Network
Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] tree protection

Many of arborists in Britain regularly use GPS, GIS, and CAD routinely
for development projects. One of them developed special CAD software for
the purpose. The lack of its use in Canada almost certainly reflects a
lack it being taught in curricula, as part of professional practice. We
still focus on pruning, planting, fertilising and tree stuff, all of
which is fine but needs expanding to the 21st century to include
effective use of technology. Several of my colleagues in BC use CAD all
the time. I use GPS and GIS.

We need to expand the horizon of what arboriculture and urban forestry
might / should entail. At the same time we can also inform surveyors and
architects of we expect them to produce - such as CAD symbols for canopy
that are scaled to reality on the ground, not simply rubber stamped on a
plan, all at the same size (a pet peeve).

On Behalf of Dunster and Associates Environmental Consultants Ltd.


Dr. Julian A Dunster R.P.F., R.P.P.., M.C.I.P., ISA Certified Arborist,
ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist # 378,
ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified
BC Wildlife Danger Tree Assessor
Honourary Life Member ISA + PNWISA

North American distributor for Rinntech
www.dunster.ca

>
> Some interesting thoughts here.
>
> Those little dots; most arborists I know do not have the equipment or
> expertise to to locate trees with any precision, nor the GIS software to
> plot them.  If an arborist is using a plan created by a surveyor than
> surely the arborist must locate and plot not the tree, but the entire
> trunk diameter or root collar/trunk flare with the same accuracy and
> precision.
>
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