i-Tree Eco is a software tool that uses tree inventory and local hourly air quality and weather data to evaluate the structure, functions, and value of urban forests. It provides reports on metrics like leaf area, carbon storage, air pollution removal, and energy conservation. i-Tree Eco offers flexible data collection and project design options. It is continuously improved with new science and functions to better address urban forest management needs. However, it does require resources to conduct complex, large projects and local data may not always be available or representative.

1. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
i-Tree 2019 Software Suite
Josh Behounek
Davey Resource Group
Josh.Behounek@davey.com
573-673-7530
@treesrtheanswr

2. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among

3. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
Plan for today…
Overview of the i-Tree suite
of tools
• Highlights of the core tools
• Quick hits on the utility
applications
Set the stage for further
discussion and exploration

4. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
i-Tree: Don’t get overwhelmed, you have options

5. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
 Public domain
science
 Free tools
 Technical support
 Continuously
improved
“Putting USFS Urban Forest science into the hands of users”
i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative
www.itreetools.org
i-Tree:

6. Structure
Function
Value
Management
Needs

7. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
i-Tree: Demonstrating Tree Value
Structure Function Values

8. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
The types of results you get from i-Tree tools
Structure
Numbers of trees
Species distributions
Species diversity
Diameter distributions
Canopy cover
Leaf area
Maps
Summaries of tree health
…and more

9. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
Benefits
Air pollution removal ($)
Avoided runoff ($)
Energy impacts ($)
Carbon storage/sequestration ($)
Structural value ($)
Wildlife habitat
UV impacts
Human health impacts
Foodscape benefits
Heat island impact (coming soon)
The types of results you get from i-Tree tools
What is the value of a tree?

10. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
Landscape
The 2019 i-Tree Suite of Tools
Web-based,
run in your
browser
Installed on a
Windows
desktop or
laptop
MyTree Planting

11. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
UTILITIESCOREPROGRAMS
Database
Hydro
Eco: Tree/Population
Ecosystem Services
Calculator
Design: Local-scale
management
MyTreeSpecies
Landscape:
Regional-scale
management
i-Tree Tools: Relationships
County
Projects Planting
Canopy
SCIENCE

12. Growth, Mortality,
& Influx Rates
Tree Cover Maps
Landscape Change
Climate Change
Parcel-based
analysis
LocalSCALERegional
Design
Landscape
Eco
“All Lands” approach, to
natural resource stewardship
i-Tree Vision
To improve forest
and human health,
and forest and city
resiliency through
easy-to-use
technology that
engages people
globally in
enhancing forest
management.

13. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
What is i-Tree Eco?
• Forest assessment and valuation
tool using sample or complete
inventory field data
• Originally developed for assessing
whole urban forest
• Reports structure, function,
benefits, and value
• Includes forecasting component
• Flagship software based on latest
science & local data

14. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
• Governments
• Non profit organizations
• Universities & campuses
• Parks and public gardens
• International users
• Consultants
• Researchers
• Corporations and institutions
interested in sustainability
• Innovators – creating interactive
maps, tree trails and their own tools
using Eco
Who is using Eco?

16. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
The basic science
• Measured variables to
estimate foliage volume
and wood volume
• Estimates tree leaf area
using species specific
equations
• Estimated benefits
largely based on leaf
area interactions with
local weather and air
pollution
• Summarize structure,
function, value
Tree
height
Canopy width
DBH
Crow
base
height
www.itreetools.org/resources/archives.php

17. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
i-Tree Eco Model Structure

18. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
Eco tree data variables
1. Tree species
2. Diameter at breast height (DBH)
3. Total tree height
4. Height to live top
5. Height to crown base
6. Crown width (N-S & E-W)
7. % Crown missing
8. % dieback (condition)
9. Crown light exposure (CLE)
10. Direction to building (Energy effect)
11. Distance to building (Energy effect)
12. Land use
Minimum Required Tree Data
Optional but Recommended Tree Data

19. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
i-Tree Eco: Simplified inventory import
Do you have tree data with species and DBH?
Get it into Eco within minutes!
Summarize your forest structure
Estimate relative ecosystem services and values!

20. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
New mapping options with i-Tree Eco

21. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
3 options for coordinate
capture with mobile devices
1. Direct entry of
coordinates
collected with
another method
2. Use your device’s GPS
3. “Tap on a map”

22. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
Structure – leaf area, condition, species
distribution, importance values
Function
⁻ Carbon
⁻ Hydrology effects
⁻ Energy effects *
⁻ Air pollution removal (tree, shrub & grass)
⁻ Human health impacts *
⁻ Ultraviolet (UV) reduction *
Value ($)
Management information
⁻ Pest & disease susceptibility
⁻ Tree maintenance needs
⁻ User defined options (3)
Forecasting
Cost benefit ratio anlaysis
...and more
*Some reports are limited to
the US or are limited to plot
based projects
What does i-Tree Eco evaluate?

23. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
i-Tree Eco vs i-Tree Streets
Streets (legacy)
• Management tasks
• Return on investment
• Individual tree inventory
• Map coordinates
• Street segment sampling
• Planting opportunities
• Add species on the fly
• Dated regional science
Eco
• Management tasks
• Return on investment
• Individual tree inventory
• Map coordinates
• Street segment sampling
• Planting opportunities
• Add species on the fly
• Dated regional science
• Localized with the latest science

24. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
i-Tree Eco: Advantages
• Local Modeling – Eco uses local
hourly pollution, weather data and
other local characteristics for
modeling
• Dynamic tool – constantly improved
with new science, international
locations, reports and functions
• Flexible data collection and project
design options make Eco accessible
to more people
• The Eco import option is a great way
to assess existing tree inventory data
quickly

25. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
i-Tree Eco: Advantages
• Eco is designed to address the
“All Lands and All People” USFS
objective.
• Eco offers users options to
improve the model. e.g. adding
new species, hourly rainfall
data, biomass equations
• Flexible results – Eco reports by
species, strata and individual
tree to help with strategic
decision making.

26. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
i-Tree Eco: Limitations
• Time – complex, large projects may require significant
resources
• Most accurate results requires more data collection
variables. e.g. crown measurements
• Amount of results and reports can make it challenging
to find impactful or important results
• Local data may not be available or complete for all
locations, and not representative of actual conditions
• Spatial limitations - Eco can’t model spatial variability
• Application requirements – Eco needs to send and
receive data over the internet
• Not an asset management tool
• Steep learning curve

27. i-Tree is a
Cooperative
Initiative among
i-Tree Eco: In Development
• Change analysis
• Update carbon equations
• Update values and input data
• Integration with FIA/UFIA
• New international capabilities
www.itreetools.org
Eco

28. Tree
Benefits
Public
Health
Energy
Conservation
Outreach &
Education
Pest & disease
risk analysis
Community
Sustainability
Policy Formation
& Evaluation
Economic
Development
Stormwater
Management Climate
Adaptation
Green
Infrastructure
Air quality
improvement
Numerous opportunities…

29. Thanks
Josh Behounek
Josh.Behounek@davey.com
573-673-7530
@treesrtheanswr