Transcript ASSESSING BENEFITS OF URBAN TREES Andrew Lueck SavATree Consulting Group SavATree Seminar February 18, 2014

ASSESSING BENEFITS
OF URBAN TREES
Andrew Lueck
SavATree Consulting Group
SavATree Seminar
February 18, 2014
WHAT DO WE HAVE?
 Limited resources
 Personnel
 Funding
 Harsh urban environment
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Soils
Climate
Growing space
Vandalism
 Poor tree health/longevity
 Lack of appreciation
WHAT DO WE WANT?
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Tree health and longevity
Return on investment
Optimum environmental/social benefit
Ef ficient management
WHAT ARE WE AIMING FOR?
 Ecosystem Services
 Role in the environment
 Residual benefit to humans
 Human/Social Benefits
 Aesthetics
 Health
 Economics
 Triple Bottom Line
HOW DO WE GET THERE?
Assess
Analyze
Plan
SCALES OF ASSESSMENT
Tree
Landscape
Region
INDIVIDUAL TREE ASSESSMENT
 Assess the resource
 Basis for management
INVENTORY T YPES
 Complete
 Measure every tree
 Complete assessment possible
 Partial
 Pest problems
 Limited budget
 Sample
 Larger study area
 Extrapolate data
INVENTORY TECHNOLOGY
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ArcGIS
Smartphone
iPad
Handheld GPS units
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
 Analyze urban forest characteristics
 Management tool
GIS USES
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Tie into other systems
Analyze impacts
Analyze proximity
Maintenance planning
ANALYZE PLANTING SPACES
Locate available space
Prioritize planting
Select species
Combine layers - soils, hydrology, buildings,
sun/wind exposure, pavement/root space, etc.
Plan for future growth and benefit
Hydrology
Buildings
Utilities
Site needs
Available spaces
TREE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULING
TREE CONDITION RATINGS
ONLINE MAPPING
 Google Fusion Tables
 ArcGIS Online
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ASSESSMENT
 Modeling software
 Urban forest analysis
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Monetary value
Carbon sequestration/pollutant removal
Watershed analysis
Energy savings
 Integrate into inventory
 Tie into GIS systems
UIC ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
Ounces removed per year
Location
CO
O3
NO2
PM10
SO2
Total
East Side
734.1
10,769.40
4,836.30
6,071.70
2,209.20
24,620.70
West Side
446.3
6,389.30
2,856.40
3,578
1,319.40
14,589.40
1,180.40
17,158.70
7,692.70
9,649.70
3,528.60
39,210.10
Entire Campus
Carbon sequestered
equals 3,600
gallons of gas or
11.2 tons of waste
diverted yearly
Location
Total Value ($)
$ per tree
East Side
3,129,081
951.38
West Side
1,804,560
864.67
Entire Campus
4,933,641
917.72
Location
C seq. per yr. (lb.)
lb. per tree
East Side
44,106
13.4
West Side
26,831
12.9
Entire Campus
70,937
13.2
VISUALIZE AND ANALYZE
Ex: Heat Island
Impacts
PLANTING DESIGN
 Place trees
 Analyze tree growth/
future benefits
 Optimize individual
tree/site benefits
URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT
What do we have?
 Canopy coverage
 Land cover analysis
 Economic analysis
URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT
What do we want?
 Where will we get the most benefit?
 What is the best potential tree canopy?
 Most efficient place to plant trees?
CUYAHOGA COUNT Y, OHIO
 Areas of need
 New tree planting
initiatives
WHO CAN USE THIS INFORMATION?
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Planners
Landscape architects
Municipalities
Property managers
Campus grounds
Many others
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THIS
INFORMATION?
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Basis for tree management
Work planning
Develop management plan
Integrate into other plans
Utilize for outreach
SHOW THE ECONOMICS
 Cost:Benefit of planting, caring for trees
 Environmental
 Infrastructure
 Real estate
MANAGEMENT PLANNING
 Guidelines for the future
 Cost:benefit analysis
 Public communication
QUESTIONS?
Andrew Lueck
Consulting Arborist
[email protected]
847-508-8417