OpenTreeMap is an open source tree data management system developed by Azavea that allows citizens, governments, and organizations to collaboratively inventory and map urban trees. It features tools for searching tree data, viewing ecosystem benefits, adding and editing tree information, uploading photos, and tracking stewardship activities. The system is customizable and can integrate with mobile apps to facilitate public tree mapping efforts and encourage citizen involvement in urban forestry.

1. Crowd Sourced Data as a Civic Hack:
Using OpenTreeMap for Citizen Forestry
340 N 12th St, Suite 402
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215.925.2600
info@azavea.com
www.azavea.com/opentreemap

2. An open source tree data management system
for collaborative, geography enabled urban tree inventory

3. Main Features
• Search and Explore Tree
Data
• View Ecosystem Benefits
• Add New Trees
• Edit and Update Trees
• Upload Tree Photos
• Track Stewardship Activities

4. Partners and Funders

5. About Azavea
• Founded in 2000
• B Corporation
• Esri Business Partner
• 35+ people
• Based in Philadelphia
• Geospatial + web + mobile
– Software development
– Spatial analysis services
– User experience

6. OpenTreeMap History
• Urban Forest Map
• USDA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant Phase 1
• PhillyTreeMap and
Greenprint Maps
• Released as open
source project
• USDA Phase 2 Grant
• More maps!!!

7. Open Source? What does that mean?
• No license fee
• Anyone can download and contribute to the code
• Maintained by a community of users
• New features are added back into the code for
everyone to use
• Accessible at www.opentreemap.org

8. Why Open Source?
• Original Urban Forest Map grant required the code
be released as open source
• Many forestry groups have limited resources for
ongoing licensing costs
• Enables a collaborative effort from people with
multiple skill sets (GIS, forestry, community
engagement)
• Because it’s fun

9. Search and Display

11. Searching for Trees
• Location
• Species
• Advanced Filters
– Diameter
– Dates
– Missing Data
– Species Characteristics
– Other Options

12. Quick Detail View

13. Tree Detail Page
• Tree Info
• Tree Images
• Satellite Imagery
• Google Street
View Integration
• Eco Benefits
• Recent Contributors
• Editing Option

14. Calculate Eco Benefits

15. Viewing Ecosystem Benefits
• Available for search results or
individual trees
• Calculated using iTree
• Can be customized with local
energy values
• Requires species and diameter
data

17. Adding and Editing Data

21. Adding and Editing Data

22. Data Quality

23. Pending Updates System

25. Data Quality Checks
• Remove duplicate
trees during data
upload
• Tree watch list
• Drop down lists
• User groups
• Reputation points

26. Administrative Management
• Bulk data upload
• Review comments and
uploaded images
• View recent activity
and edits
• Manage user groups
• Manage tree watch list

27. Public Engagement

28. Customizable by City
• Data fields
• Base map
• Species list
• Tree key
• Optional modules
– Pending edits
– Stewardship
activities
– Comments
– And more…

29. Stewardship Search
• Add ability to search by public
actions, not just tree attributes
• Use settings that let the public
explore stewardship actions
• Display results with design that
emphasizes action or inaction

30. Add Activity

31. Visible and Searchable Online

32. Tablet Accessible

33. Smartphone Apps

34. How do you get people involved?
• Tree mapping parties in
Grand Rapids
• The Great Tree Count in
California
• Tree surveys in
Philadelphia
• Partner with colleges
• Integration with citizen
forester classes

35. OpenTreeMap In Action

36. Deborah Boyer opentreemap
dboyer@azavea.com
215.701.7506
www.opentreemap.org azavea
Slides at www.slideshare.net/azavea/opentreemap-ncgis
More resources at www.opentreemap.org
Questions?

37. Crowd Sourced Data as a Civic Hack:
Using OpenTreeMap for Citizen Forestry
340 N 12th St, Suite 402
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215.925.2600
info@azavea.com
www.azavea.com/opentreemap