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i-Tree Introduction
The i-Tree initiative, launched by the Georgia Urban Forestry Council, aims to enhance urban forest management through a suite of web-based tools that assess tree structure, function, and value. The program provides detailed management guides, including recommendations for tree planting and maintenance to improve forest and human health, while also addressing urban challenges like stormwater management and air quality. i-Tree serves various stakeholders, including governments, non-profits, universities, and ecological consultants, offering insights into the benefits of trees, such as carbon sequestration and energy conservation.
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i-Tree Introduction
- 1. i-Tree Introduction Georgia UrbanForestry Council June 27, 2018 www.itreetools.org i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiative
- 2. Where is theurban forest?
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- 5. Public Domain Software Based onpeer- reviewed research Technical support Continuously improved i-Tree… “Putting USFS Urban Forest science into the hands of users” www.itreetools.org
- 6. Structure Function BenefitsValue ….state, county, region, watershed, neighborhood, home, etc.
- 7. Landscape The 2017 i-TreeSuite of Tools Web-based, run in your browser Installed on a Windows desktop or laptop MyTree Planting 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.
- 8. Growth, Mortality, & InfluxRates 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.
- 10. What are thebenefit$ of trees? Carbon sequestration Oxygen Erosion Control Aesthetics Energy Conservation Storm Water Interception Pollution Control Quality of Life
- 12. i-Tree Tool Usermaps
- 13. Tree Benefit: Stormwaterreduction Intercepts and holds rain on leaves, branches, and other surfaces Reduces stormwater runoff Increases water storage in soil Reduces erosion
- 14. Tree Benefit: Improveair quality Absorb pollutants through leaf surfaces O3 (ozone) NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) SO2 (sulfur dioxide) Intercept dust and/or particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) Reduction in energy production needs reduces creation of many pollutants Release oxygen
- 15. Tree Benefit: ReduceCarbon Dioxide CO2 Trees are largely made of carbon so they take carbon out of the air and turn it into tissue (bark, leaves, wood, etc.) Tree reduce home energy needs and help avoid carbon released from power plants in the first place (Secondary benefit or avoided)
- 16. Tree Benefit: EnergyEffects Trees shade buildings and built surfaces (summer) Act as a wind break reducing heat loss in (winter) Trees cool the air – (climate effect) Reduce energy demand at power generation source (Secondary benefit or avoided negative impacts)
- 17. 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…
- 18. i-Tree: Demonstrating TreeValue Structure Function Values
- 19. Columbia, MO –Radio Ad
- 20. Atlanta, GA -TreeKeeper https://atlantaga.treekeepersoftware.com/
- 21. Atlanta, GA -TreeKeeper https://atlantaga.treekeepersoftware.com/
- 22. Atlanta, GA -TreeKeeper https://atlantaga.treekeepersoftware.com/
- 23. Future Program Integration i-Treewill provide management guides that: Detail local risks to forests and humans (air and water quality, UV radiation, insects and diseases, air temperatures, climate change...) Determine best locations to plant or protect trees Provide species and location recommendations to improve forest and human health Recommend planting rates to sustain forest cover at desired level
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- 25. Harbor Brook CreekWatershed Models effects of: Tree cover Impervious cover on: Stream flow Water quality i-Tree Hydro
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- 30. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners What is i-Tree Eco? • Field-based assessment requiring inventory data • Flagship software based on latest science & local data • Originally developed for assessing whole urban forest • Adapted for individual tree assessments • Internationally functional
- 31. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners i-Tree Eco Assess: Structure Function • Energy effects • Air quality • Carbon • Avoided runoff • Human health impacts • VOCs Value ($) Management info • Pest risk • Tree health • Exotic/invasive spp.
- 32. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Providence i-Tree Eco Summary
- 33. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Eco Highlights… • Simplified & new data collection options • Forecasting capabilities • Multiple years of hourly pollution & weather data now available
- 34. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Eco Highlights… • New user interface design • Updated and expanded reporting options • Desktop processing for USA, AUS, CAN & UK projects
- 35. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Who is using Eco? • Governments – Kansas City, Pittsburg, Plano • Non-Profits- SacTree, Casey Tree, Morton Arboretum, Forterra • Universities & campuses • Graduate student research • International users • Consultants • Increasing interest from ecological restoration & parks
- 36. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners i-Tree Eco projects in the U.S. & abroad
- 37. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners The Basic Science • Measured variables to estimate foliage volume and wood volume • Estimate tree leaf area using species specific equations • Estimate benefits largely based on leaf area interactions with local weather and air pollution • Summarize structure, function, value Tree height Crown width Crown base Tree DBH www.itreetools.org/resources/archives.php
- 38. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners i-Tree Eco Model Schematic Field Data Location DB (City info) Species DB (6,400+ spp.) Hourly Pollution Data Hourly Weather Data Air Quality www.itreetools.org/resources/archives.php Carbon Avoided Runoff Energy Effects Valuation Structure Forecast
- 39. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Eco “Classic” 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. Condition (% dieback) 9. Crown light exposure 10. Direction to building 11. Distance to building 12. Land use
- 40. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Carbon Storage & Seq. Species DBH Total Height Crown Light Exposure % Dieback (Condition) Pollution Species Live Top height Crown base height Crown width % Crown missing Avoided Runoff Species Live Top height Crown base height Crown width % Crown missing Energy Effects Species Total Height Dist. & Dir. to building Structural Value Species DBH Land use % Dieback (Condition) Forecast Species DBH Crown Light Exposure % Dieback (Condition) Eco Model Routines and Data Associations
- 41. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Eco Project Considerations Project Design & Planning • Consider objectives & resources • Consider standard & optional metrics • Consider & define area of interest Scale Vegetation Access
- 42. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Select Inventory Method • Complete inventory (parks, campuses, street trees) • Random sample plots (recommend 200, 1/10th acre for urban areas) • Stratification options (sample & inventories) Eco Project Considerations
- 43. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Eco Data Collection • Web-enabled mobile device, PDA or paper • Measure required & optional variables • Run data in model to obtain results Eco sample plot data link Eco inventory data link Server http://goo.gl/nMzjw0 http://goo.gl/lSzU2E
- 44. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Project Management Considerations • Assign a project manager & train data collectors • May need permission to access private property • Difficult in more natural areas (> 1 day per plot) • Travel between plots and locating plots can be time consuming
- 45. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners i-Tree Eco Interface
- 46. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners i-Tree Eco: Reports What’s new? • All results available for complete inventories • Including “written report” • New reports including the best outputs from i-Tree streets • Size class distribution graphs • Cost benefit analysis • Maintenance and user defined data categories • Enhanced individual tree reporting
- 47. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Complete Inventory Reporting Additional reports support inventory projects of all sizes • Full street tree inventories • Corporate campuses • Parks • Individual properties Forest structure reports from older Eco
- 48. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners New reports
- 49. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Individual tree reporting Structure and benefits of any tree you measured • Report benefits of a single tree • With GPS data map benefit locations • Find tree providing the greatest benefits
- 50. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners i-Tree Forecast - What is it? • A new module within i-Tree Eco • Project tree growth over time • Include population modeling • User guided planting and mortality • Projects changes in selected tree benefits
- 51. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Forecasting: How it works DBH growth • Current DBH and Height • Frost free days • Crown light exposure • Dieback • Species specific Crown estimates • Based on new DBH • Includes impacts of competition • Species specific Leaf area & benefits • Includes impacts of competition • Carbon storage based tree size • Pollution removal based on leaf area Death and Planting • Apply user defined mortality • Add user defined plantings • Apply in specified years • Adjust density
- 52. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Forecasting: Basic Options • Set-up forecast duration, 1- 100 years • Estimate days of the year without frost (localized defaults provided) • Set up base/background mortality rates for different tree conditions • These options impact all trees
- 53. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Forecasting: Customize annual mortality Specify mortality rates for a • genus • health category • user-defined stratum
- 54. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Forecasting: Customize tree planting Plant trees in existing proportions • Apply to whole study area or a single stratum • Define start and end dates
- 55. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Forecasting: Pest Outbreaks • Preloaded with 36 common pests • All host species impacted • Flexible start and end • Flexible mortality rates
- 56. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Forecasting: Extreme weather • Default storm categories provided • All trees impacted • Mortality and year of occurrence are flexible • Repeat storms possible, e.g. 5 year storm events
- 57. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Forecasting Results: Change in structure
- 58. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Forecasting Results: Change in benefits
- 59. Health Effects O3NO2 SO2 PM2.5 Acute Bronchitis √ Acute Myocardial Infarction √ Acute Respiratory Symptoms √ √ √ √ Asthma Exacerbation √ √ √ Chronic Bronchitis √ Emergency Room Visits √ √ √ √ Hospital Admissions √ √ √ √ Lower Respiratory Symptoms √ Mortality √ √ School Loss Days √ Upper Respiratory Symptoms √ Work Loss Days √ Human Health Impacts and Values • Link to EPA’s Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis program (BenMAP) • Estimates health impacts and values due to tree effects on air quality via pollution removal
- 60. Incidence Reduction/yr. Value($/yr.) Acute Bronchitis 4.5 $398 Acute Myocardial Infarction 1.4 $129,347 Acute Respiratory Symptoms 2,931 $287,280 Asthma Exacerbation 1,919 $156,020 Chronic Bronchitis 2.4 $681,773 Emergency Room Visits 8 $3,326 Hospital Admissions, Cardiovascular 1.2 $46,150 Hospital Admissions, Respiratory 0.7 $22,684 Lower Respiratory Symptoms 55.7 $2,892 Mortality 7.6 $58,708,876 Upper Respiratory Symptoms 45 $2,019 Work Loss Days 504 $92,089 Total na $60,132,856 Human Health Impacts – PM2.5 removal New York City
- 61. i-Tree is a Cooperative Initiativeamong these partners Potential Applications Model different scenarios • Species mixes • Climate change impacts • Size/type of planting stock Planting • How many trees will you need to plant to maintain current stocking, offset known losses, achieve canopy goals Maintenance • What benefits will be lost if lack of maintenance leads to higher mortality Lots of flexibility
- 62. Assessing Street TreePopulations i-Tree Streets: Structure Function Energy Air pollution Stormwater Carbon Aesthetic Value $ Values Cost Benefit Analysis Management needs
- 64. Total Costs St. Louisspends an average of $46.92 per street tree and approximately $9.98 per capita.
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- 66. Relative Performance Index Species Dead/DyingPoor Fair Good RPI # of Trees Total % of Total Populat ion green ash 0.5 3.5 12.7 83.2 1.00 11,545 15.6 pin oak 0.5 1.3 8.9 89.2 1.03 7,532 10.2 silver maple 0.3 5.8 36.1 57.8 0.90 6,434 8.7 red maple 1.2 1.7 9.5 87.6 1.02 6,105 8.2 sycamore 0.4 3.5 14.7 81.5 1.00 5,809 7.8 sugar maple 1.2 1.8 9.3 87.7 1.02 5,442 7.4 callery pear 'Bradford' 0.5 2.4 17.4 79.7 0.99 4,739 6.4 thornless honeylocust 0.6 1.6 12.5 85.3 1.02 3,771 5.1 white ash 0.6 1.8 6.8 90.8 1.03 3,441 4.6 sweetgum 0.4 1.4 9.1 89.1 1.03 2,684 3.6 redbud 1.6 3.8 16.1 78.6 0.98 2,311 3.1 littleleaf linden 0.6 2.2 11.7 85.5 1.01 1,849 2.5 American basswood 0.6 1.4 12.5 85.5 1.02 1,627 2.2 Norway maple 1.2 3.3 10.4 85.2 1.00 1,290 1.7 apple 0.5 3.4 15.2 81.0 0.99 1,278 1.7 ginkgo 0.5 1.8 6.5 91.2 1.04 832 1.1 callery pear 'Aristocrat' 0.0 1.7 10.3 88.0 1.03 785 1.1 City-wide total 0.7 2.8 13.9 82.5 1.00 74,013 100.0
- 67. Emerald Ash Borer? >18% Benefits ($816,525) •Over 74,000 Street Trees (20% Ash)
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