Tree inventories have evolved from pen & paper to GIS-based & beyond. Today we are able to confidently and cost effectively do street & park tree inventories using various machine learning approaches. This presentation will share these methodologies and demonstrate what applications are right for machine learning. By using case study results, we will share recent case studies from around the world where machine learning has been utilized to create and maintain accurate tree inventories. Leveraging machine learning street tree inventories can unlock huge potential for proactive maintenance with real-time data
11. Buffalo, NY Inventory Update
2001 2014 Difference
Sites 124,445 127,080 2,635
Total DBH 871,173” 817,627” -53,546”
Average
DBH
7” 6” -1”
# Species 281 247 -34
# Removals 668 2,707 2,039
# Planting
Sites
48,761 44,619 -4,142
12. Top 5 Species Still Poor Recommended for Removal
45, 43%
24, 23%
20, 19%
9, 9%
6, 6%
MAPLE, NORWAY
MAPLE, SILVER
LINDEN, LITTLELEAF
HORSECHESTNUT, COMMON
CHERRY, KWANZAN
162 total trees
14. 3 Types of
Machine Learning &
Tree Inventories
✔ Nothing
✔ Inherited
❏ Current
15. Machine Learning Process with Google Streets
Geo-localization of tree
canopy (Step 1)
● Aerial imagery is
used to identify
where trees are.
● Canopy pixels are
extracted and
vectorized to define
the boundary called
the tree canopy
zone.
Estimating tree
count (Step 2)
● Within the tree
canopy zone, street
view imagery is used
to find the trees
under street view
Estimating distance
from observer (Step 3)
● A heat map is generated
that defines the distance
of each pixel from the
observer.
● Using this, the average
distance of tree pixels is
calculated within the
bounding box extracted
in step 2
Identifying location of
individual trees (Step 4)
● Observer location and
field of view is projected
in aerial view (the right
angle in blue above)
● Using the distance
calculated in step 3,
individual trees are
placed on aerial image
map (yellow points).
Photo credit - SiteRecon
16. 1. No Idea of Number of Trees to be Inventoried
28. Utilizing Point Data
1. Number of Trees
2. Location of Trees
3. TreeKeeper Software
4. Tree Equity
5. Pruning Cycles
6. Planting Locations
7. Updating
32. Implementing Tree Monitoring Program
Year 1
Initiate tree monitoring
program
Perform advanced
assessments
Install TreeKeeper 9
Year 2
Implement information
via TreeKeeper 9
Year 3
Perform tree
monitoring data
collection
Perform advanced
assessments of
flagged trees
Perform change
analysis
Update TreeKeeper 9
Year 5
Perform tree
monitoring data
collection
Perform advanced
assessments of
flagged trees
Perform change
analysis
Update TreeKeeper 9
Year 4
Implement information
via TreeKeeper 9
Photo credit - greehill
33. Initial assessment
greehill drives streets &
parks per contract specs
Data Delivery
Data is delivered into
TreeKeeper 9 with API to
greehill software
Data extraction
Data is processed via
machine learning to provide
information per data specs.
Advanced Assessments
Davey provides Level 2
assessments to flagged trees.
Outlier Trees
Based on results of data,
client goals, & budget a
certain # of trees are
identified for advanced
assessments
Tree Monitoring
Program
Operation workflow