This month’s Buyer’s Guide provides a snapshot of the digital products on offer to help arborists keep track of their trees – and equipment.
ARBORFLIGHT
IN the realm of arboriculture, ArborFlight stands as a pioneer, harnessing the power of cutting-edge aerial imaging technology to deliver comprehensive and accurate tree and vegetation assessments. Its bespoke ArborCam system, integrated into a fixed-wing crewed aircraft, enables it to seamlessly survey vast areas, providing valuable insights to local authorities, utility companies, large estate landowners, and woodland managers.
The ArborCam system captures high-resolution imagery and data, transforming traditional ground-based surveys into efficient and cost-effective airborne operations. This innovative approach allows it to cover extensive areas in a fraction of the time, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods and directing ground resources to key areas first.
The ArborCam system’s capabilities extend far beyond mere image capture.
Through advanced image processing and analysis algorithms, it extracts detailed information about individual trees and vegetation, including:
• Tree count, height and canopy cover
• Stem diameter at breast height (DBH) estimate
• Crown condition and potential defects
• Species identification and classification
• Tree and vegetation condition indicators
• Carbon sequestration estimates
This comprehensive data enables ArborFlight to generate detailed reports tailored to the specific needs of its clients. These reports provide crucial information for informed decision-making, such as:
• Tree risk assessment and hazard mitigation planning
• Forestry management and conservation strategies
• Utility line clearance and infrastructure development
The fact that all this data can be seamlessly accessed through an easy-to-use web-based user interface, integrated with ArborTrack web tree management software, or via your own GIS platform is a huge advantage. This means that you can access the data from anywhere, at any time, without having to install any additional software.
www.arborflight.co.uk, info@arborflight.co.uk,
020 3818 5998, X (@ArborFlightLTD) Instagram
(@arborflight_ltd), LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/arborflight-limited)
PETZL
WHEN it comes to managing PPE, there’s a new digital solution in town. Introducing Petzl’s ePPEcentre, an application designed to help tree care workers keep track of their harnesses, ropes, and helmets.
Enabling users to manage and inspect their PPE, the app is available on both desktop and mobile, and is packed with a host of features to ensure your kit remains in top condition.
As well as detailing when PPE needs assessed, it also reveals which items are approaching the end of their lifespan.
Add a Petzl product by simply scanning its datamatrix: all information related to the product will automatically show up on the dedicated page, grouping all the information necessary for management and tracking. Products from other brands can be logged manually.
A statement from the manufacturer added: “The PPE database can be structured according to different work methods or to meet specific industry needs. You can group products based on location, users, or even product families.”
TREEPLOTTER
THE TreePlotter software suite, developed by PlanIT Geo, is trusted by urban foresters, arborists, park managers, and tree care professionals worldwide. Designed to enhance the management and protection of urban green spaces, TreePlotter increases your organisation’s technological capacity; whether you’re part of a local authority, housing association, consultancy, or charity, it provides the tools needed to manage urban trees and green assets effectively.
TreePlotter INVENTORY: Simplify Tree and Asset Management
TreePlotter INVENTORY is a comprehensive tool for managing tree data and assets. It allows users to collect tree details, assess tree health, and upload photos directly from smartphones or tablets – no additional devices required. As a map- and browser-based solution, it offers seamless on-site data collection, powerful analysis tools, and configurable dashboards. Key features include:
•Proactive risk management: quickly identify at-risk trees and manage maintenance schedules.
•Community outreach: share work histories, interactive maps, and public-facing data with local communities.
•Customisable access: tailor user permissions to meet the needs of your team.
With scalable product tiers and additional modules, INVENTORY can be fully customised to meet the needs of any organisation. A few of the modules include:
•Development Survey: this helps consultants comply with tree protection laws (e.g. BS 5837), mapping tree canopy and root protection zones in the field. It also supports CAD file imports/exports for planning and development projects.
•Ecosystem benefits: powered by the i-Tree engine, quantify the ecological benefits of urban trees, such as air quality improvement, stormwater management, and carbon sequestration.
TreePlotter CANOPY: Visually Communicate Tree Equity
TreePlotter CANOPY allows users to visualise tree canopy and land cover data. Easily:
•Identify areas with low canopy cover and high planting potential
•Prioritise tree planting based on local needs
•Measure canopy goals and track ecosystem benefits
Coming soon: 10-metre resolution canopy data for the entire United Kingdom will be available for purchase from PlanIT Geo to further support urban greening and canopy assessments.
For more information, visit planitgeo.com/uk-treeplotter
EZYTREEV
EZYTREEV enables professionals to manage and maintain trees, woodland and landscape features and infrastructure across streets, parks and transport networks. Ezytreev covers everything from managing current and historic data, all inspections and works, to offering full support for surveys and risk calculations, through to work order scheduling and tracking, budgeting, contractor management and processing enquiries.
Optimised Web and App interfaces
Accessible via both a web interface and a mobile app, Ezytreev offers flexibility and convenience for tree and asset officers, as well as contractors. It provides an all-in-one, user-centric web platform designed to streamline tree and asset management. The system also streamlines tree benefit analysis with the integrated Tree Carbon Storage & Sequestration Calculator and optional iTree Eco-Benefits API integration. The industry-leading Onsite App is designed specifically to perform in-the-field data collection for all trees, TPOs and open space assets, from conducting surveys, inspections and visiting enquiries, to performing and monitoring works. Built with cross-platform technology, the app delivers a seamless experience on Android, iOS, and Windows. Anyone working in the field has full access to all data and mapping at all times. No constant mobile signal? No worries, the Onsite App works seamlessly offline, while still receiving push alerts. Once connected to WiFi or 4G/5G, ‘SmartSync’ ensures a fully synced, live experience across all devices.
TPO Module – setting the standard
Ezytreev’s TPO offers feature-rich support for various methods of identifying trees for a new TPO and reviewing existing TPOs, as well as efficient processes for works applications/notices.
What sets it apart is that it’s the only system supporting TPO management functions on-site, with functionality for TPO surveying, reviews, amenity assessment, applications and enquiry processing.
Public-Facing Portals
EzyPortal is increasingly popular with UK local authorities. Fed directly from Ezytreev, the ezyPortal offers a user-friendly interactive map search tool. It publishes the councils’ tree data on the Community Tree Portal or TPO data on the Protected Tree Portal. Application/notification registers and a dedicated tree works applicant resource are available to anyone to populate their application form, schedule proposed work and generate a sketch plan. See the two products in use at https://barnet.ezyportal.com (Tree Portal) and https://lichfielddc.ezyportal.com (TPO Portal).
Government Digital Marketplace
As a Cloud Software solution, Ezytreev is listed on G-Cloud 14 Framework, enabling easy access for public sector organisations.
Visit: www.ezytreev.com, or contact: 0330 223 1133, info@ezytreev.com
GIS SOLUTIONS
TREESURV PRO
GIS Solutions offers an easy-to-use tree surveying app, TreeSurV Pro. Spend longer surveying trees than recording them.
Designed by an experienced tree surveyor, the system already features more than 1.5 million trees and can be quickly deployed to mobile devices.
Mobile app
• Survey setup – The data-capture forms are fully customisable to your client’s requirements and they are easy to use as well as being quick to operate, with minimal training requirements. The form can encompass text boxes, drop-down boxes, select lists, yes/no questions, date, time, location, surveyor, photograph, audio recording etc. The existing tree data can be loaded into the system and set up to be used in the live database.
• Sends data in real time – Once the tree data is captured the survey data is sent in real time using a mobile data signal. It is sent directly into the live database. If a mobile signal is not present, the maps can be preloaded so that they can work offline and the tree data captured can be queued on the device until internet access is available, at which point it will automatically upload the tree data to the database.
• Multiple surveyors – Where several surveyors are used it allows each surveyor to see all the other surveyors’ tree data and this eliminates overlap of tree records.
• Licences – GIS’s setup will provide two individual app licences for the data collection (further ones could be provided at a small additional cost).
• OS data – The app has a map page and the form screen. Within the map any relevant GIS data layers can be added such as OS MasterMap, ownership layers, risk zones and aerial imagery.
Website
GIS Solutions offers a web mapping site that utilises the latest WebGIS technology to deliver large amounts of geographic data in a fast and easy-to-use format. Web maps can be used to manage the tree data alongside any other data that WHG has.
They can show geo-referenced data on a map instantly and can often answer questions to enable clients to make quick decision
Contact (01228) 808446 or TreeApp@gis-solutions.co.uk www.gis-solutions.co.uk
BEST OF THE REST
TREEKEEPER
WHEN it’s your job to look after the trees of a city, park, campus or other property, tracking and managing detailed tree data can be a challenge.
This is where TreeKeeper comes in. Whether you are in the office or out in the field, TreeKeeper provides a user-friendly and versatile tool that allows you to access your tree data from any location with an internet connection.
It enables you to easily coordinate your team and plan work, engage with external contractors, manage calls and issue work orders. It also allows you to produce reports, showing what work has been accomplished on a certain day, or week, for example.
But this software allows you to do more than just track data. It is an all-in-one urban forestry management system that introduces time back into your busy schedule. Using the latest GPS and GIS technologies, TreeKeeper is able to provide immediate tree inventory representation and precise planting locations. This allows you to record tree health and maintenance needs, manage potential safety risks, and more.
Visit www.treeconomics.co.uk/our-services/treekeeper-canopytm.
ARBORTRACK
WORKING on over 25 years’ experience throughout the world, Arbortrack Web has proved to be robust and reliable to the extent it now has over 1,000 users worldwide, managing millions of trees.
Arbortrack’s ability to embrace and invest in the latest and most appropriate technology for the task enables it to maintain a significant competitive advantage over its competitors. It understands the importance of knowing the percentage canopy cover for organisations along with the amount of carbon storage within their tree stock, so has made it even easier to extract these figures from the data held within Arbortrack Web. Arbortrack continues to improve the ease of obtaining key performance indicators (KPI) as they become an ever-increasing aid to ensure an organisation’s tree stock is managed in the most effective, cost-efficient manner.
It’s now even easier for the field operative to locate a specific tree using what3words and to send photos back to the office to record any issues, or completed works, in a live real-time environment.
For further information, visit the website www.arbortrack.com. Alternatively, email arbortrack@aol.com or call 0333 242 5139.
I-TREE
CAN you measure the financial value of trees? And if so, should you? The answer is yes!
Urban trees provide many benefits, and their ‘ecosystem services’ are often overlooked.
However, councils are increasingly interested in measuring the value of their urban treescapes, and are looking at ways to better understand and strategically manage them. They are also keen to engage their communities in the promotion of these tree benefits. This is where i-Tree can be a useful tool. i-Tree Canopy and i-Tree Eco both offer a user-friendly, cost-effective, and scientifically rigorous method for achieving this.
i-Tree is a free, open-source, peer-reviewed software suite, which offers several desktop and web-based applications.
Based on years of US Forest Service research and development, these applications provide users with tools to quantify ecosystem services and benefit values of community trees and forests at multiple scales.
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