[CANUFNET] tree protection

[Marie-Hélène Sauvé via CANUFNET]

Hi there,

Just to adjust something about GPS and urban forestry: there exists many
types of devices that are accurate enough (+/-10cm precision) to make a very
good distinction between two trees located nearby (and even the property -
if it's a public tree or not). Those devices are way more expensive than
those easy-to-use Garmin or other GPS device used traditionally in forestry.
Those high-level precision GPS are used by some consultants in the Greater
Montréal. So YES, it may be used and applied. The user has to know how to
use it properly though; GIS skills are required!

Cheers,

Marie-Hélène Sauvé



-----Message d'origine-----
De : CANUFNET [mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] De la part de via
CANUFNET
Envoyé : 19 janvier 2017 13:12
À : jd at dunster.ca; Julian Dunster; Michael Richardson; Canadian Urban Forest
Network
Objet : Re: [CANUFNET] tree protection

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.
>
>
>
>