GPS A Tree

[612]

We would like to GPS the individual trees on our property. To record location, type, height to the first limb & diameter to a spreadsheet along with the current market values per spices. Once this done we can then go directly to the Oak, Walnut or etc trees on site and have an approximate current value. Anyone have any experience with the GPS equipment this would require and any software available to pull this information together? Thanks in advance for all suggestions.

 

[lfnh]

Depending on acreage of your stand, species, and density it might be easier and cheaper to get a hold of a state Forester or contract Forester and ask about having a stand cruised for 1) stumage scale value 2) management plan for improvment (and harvest).

If you've got a large acreage, might ask mods about posting this over in Forestry Forum

 

[derwoodii]

I have over 75000 street and 1000sands of park trees GPS logged with my required info, if you wish to do the same contact your larger Local goverment or SMA org Society of Municipal Arborists | Home they will point you to service providers

tree $ value can be done, it is however very subjective more often a range of amenity value not a solid $ figure is reached

or try itree i-Tree - Tools for Assessing and Managing Community Forests may meet your needs well

 

[TreeGuyHR]

I have over 75000 street and 1000sands of park trees GPS logged with my required info, if you wish to do the same contact your larger Local goverment or SMA org Society of Municipal Arborists | Home they will point you to service providers

tree $ value can be done, it is however very subjective more often a range of amenity value not a solid $ figure is reached

or try itree i-Tree - Tools for Assessing and Managing Community Forests may meet your needs well

Sounds like you probably have a Trimble?

I have a $400 hand-held Garmin to put trees (and stumps) into data bases for my consulting work. I still find that I have to match aerial photos with on-the-ground photos if I am to match tree numbers to the little green lumps in the aerial (for an illustration). I have gotten down to +/-10 ft. at times with the Garmin, but usually it is between +/-15-20--or even worse on steep ground. Then again, if you are collecting GPS coordinates to just get near the tree on the ground, and then walk up to it and visually check it's ID (by species, diameter, and perhaps a tag) it doesn't really matter.

For a recent job, I tried to use a laser (LaserAce) to triangulate the locations of trees, but it was way too slow, and nearly impossible on a steep slope with brush (where I was trying to make a stump map, for the most part for an appraisal after a fire and AFTER most trees had been cut, on steep brushy ground as well -- why do they wait to call until after cutting?!!:bang. So I used the Garmin and took lots of photos with stakes by the stumps, and also sketched the scene with the stakes numbered; that way I could label photos shot on the ground, and my illustrations (maps) based on the aerial photos.

 

[derwoodii]

Sounds like you probably have a Trimble?

I have a $400 hand-held Garmin to put trees (and stumps) into data bases for my consulting work. I still find that I have to match aerial photos with on-the-ground photos if I am to match tree numbers to the little green lumps in the aerial (for an illustration). I have gotten down to +/-10 ft. at times with the Garmin, but usually it is between +/-15-20--or even worse on steep ground. Then again, if you are collecting GPS coordinates to just get near the tree on the ground, and then walk up to it and visually check it's ID (by species, diameter, and perhaps a tag) it doesn't really matter.

For a recent job, I tried to use a laser (LaserAce) to triangulate the locations of trees, but it was way too slow, and nearly impossible on a steep slope with brush (where I was trying to make a stump map, for the most part for an appraisal after a fire and AFTER most trees had been cut, on steep brushy ground as well -- why do they wait to call until after cutting?!!:bang. So I used the Garmin and took lots of photos with stakes by the stumps, and also sketched the scene with the stakes numbered; that way I could label photos shot on the ground, and my illustrations (maps) based on the aerial photos.

Played with Trimble and a few others my 1st attempt at a 30,000+ tree audit was paper pencil based 20 years ago tool 2 blokes 8-10 weeks to collect then 2 weeks of data entry. It was total waste of effort but we knew no better. But now we use Geta E100 tablet computer GPS enabled with self programed Arcpath for tree data collection. Dont ask how details as I am the tree guy so handy with chain saws not so much a PC boffin but it works very well I can call up as much data needed to bury me in paper any day.

 

[TreeGuyHR]

Played with Trimble and a few others my 1st attempt at a 30,000+ tree audit was paper pencil based 20 years ago tool 2 blokes 8-10 weeks to collect then 2 weeks of data entry. It was total waste of effort but we knew no better. But now we use Geta E100 tablet computer GPS enabled with self programed Arcpath for tree data collection. Dont ask how details as I am the tree guy so handy with chain saws not so much a PC boffin but it works very well I can call up as much data needed to bury me in paper any day.

I am going to look up the "Geta E100" tablet.

Have you seen a demo of the arbor inventory software they have at various arbor meetings (like ISA)? I would consider it, but costs lots of $$.

 

[derwoodii]

I am going to look up the "Geta E100" tablet.

Have you seen a demo of the arbor inventory software they have at various arbor meetings (like ISA)? I would consider it, but costs lots of $$.

ops GETAC computer Getac Rugged Mobile Computing Solutions | Rugged Notebook, Tablet, Handheld

No I am ISA member and cert Arb but not a follower of GPS fashions.
I'm pretty much exhusted with tree inventorys,,, while great and dont get me wrong very very handy they do make a lot of work for me, I finding Google street does so much for me it allmost defuncts feild & desk top audits need.