Hand held GPS for tree inventory

Re: Tree ID tags-alum. or plastic-nail or screw?

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You have a link or name to share Tom????


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No...google will come up with something.

It's a pipedream to think that the university is going to go with embedding a chip
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It took six months to get them to buy me a 4'x4' brush hauling trailer.

I am not sure if they are even using GIS for locating assets on campus.
 
Re: Tree ID tags-alum. or plastic-nail or screw?

I realize our situation is probably different, Tom, but when labeling an arboretum you need to have more than just the inventory number.

So we went (are going) with aluminum tags, approx 1" X 2 3/4". These will have the common and botanical name as well as inventory number. A map with a key is available at a kiosk for viewing the grounds with the trees numbered, and a copy of this map and physical inventory can be purchased. This copy will have more information such as whether the trees are native to Montana, North America or non-native. Also whether they are donated, adopted, etc.

The information on the tags is printed using a Rhino 6000 labeler using permanent polyester tape, designed for outdoor use. The tags will be put on small trees with wire loops or zip ties on branches and on the large trees with aluminum nails or screws and springs.

I really think a small nail in the tree is such a nominal hindrance to the tree or future workers as to be a nonissue.

I realize this is more information than you probably wanted.

Sylvia
 

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Re: Tree ID tags-alum. or plastic-nail or screw?

Sylvia,

Never too much info!

I've thought about labels like that but I wondered if they were weather proof. What is your experience with them?

Having the names on the tags would sure add value to the inventory. The tree ID number could be applied to the back of the tag.

Once the trees are located on a map it wouldn't be too hard to put on a new tag if one were removed. My numbering system would make it evident if a person found a tree without a number tag too.

The tree numbers will be in a format like: X-ZZZZ
X is the section on campus 1-9
The first tree will be number 0010 then 0020 then 0030, etc. The last place will be used to number a new tree that is interplanted close to the 0010 and 0020 trees. Having 'space' for a thousand trees per section is sufficient.

When we start the inventory we'll start in the NW corner of each section and follow through in a logical pattern going W to E and then N to S like reading a page.
 
Re: Tree ID tags-alum. or plastic-nail or screw?

Unfortunately, we have no experience with this product. The advertising for the permanent polyester tape claims "years" of service in outdoor application. And as we know, advertisers never lie, right?
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Our biggest limitation was budget...we have none. So this project had to be accomplished as cheaply as possible. We were also concerned with replacement cost. It is inevitable that tags will be damaged or disappear, so we wanted these to be easy and inexpensive to replace or it wouldn't get done. And I am absolutely sure that while we are tagging these trees, we are going to come across a mislabelled tree...with this method, we can make a new tag on site.

I think determining HOW to number the trees was possibly one of the most daunting decisions. Because you do have to figure on new trees and replacements. We followed the example of some of the larger arboreta around the country and gave the tree a number, followed by the year of ascension. In this manner, each year will start over with 001. Many arboreta do as you are doing as well, with a section designation. I opted not to do that simply to keep the information on the tag minimal and also due to the fact, we are a much smaller estate than places such as university campuses or larger arboreta. The master map and list that can be purchased has designations such as "northeast lawn" which will be sufficient at this time.

Sylvia
 
Re: Tree ID tags-alum. or plastic-nail or screw?

I'm really down on putting labels on trees. I can walk you around our campus and show you labels grown right over, because nobody was paying attention to back them out (before my time). I also have an entire section of campus where the label refers to the tree next to it-student workers not paying attention. It's just heartbreaking.

Isn't the point of a GPS inventory such that you wouldn't need tags as well? I'd prefer paper maps, or google earth on an iPhone or handheld-publically downloadable. Granted, I haven't set that up yet for us, so it is even too daunting for me, and I'm a geek. What about labels for important trees on stakes in front of the tree in the mulch circle? Surely no one is really going to care if every single tree isn't labeled. You can print maps for your workers-they shouldn't have to rely on tags. If they can't ID a tree from a map and basic identification should they be working on it?

Sorry to be so persnickity-I wish I was on campus right now to shoot some pictures of tree labels 15 years down the road.
 
Re: Tree ID tags-alum. or plastic-nail or screw?

Moonfarm, I understand your cynicism, but you also point out an important fact...the GPS system is "too daunting" even for yourself, a professed "geek". So how is a small arboretum with a very limited budget suppose to meet the basic criteria of public education which requires/encourages the labeling of every tree?

We have beautiful plaques that are made by a volunteer in front of "signature" trees...a single tree of a species. And the public love the ability to glance at the plaque and know what they are looking at. But, I am sorry, many times the general public cannot tell if the tree standing right next to it is the same species or not. It would be prohibitive to place these plaques at the base of every tree on the property.

Therefore, we are going to the standard tagging of each individual tree, again per standard guidelines. Sixteen years ago these trees were tagged and the protocol at that time was to put the tags at the base of the tree. Unfortunately, these have become weathered and are either gone or misshapen. They were only listed with the number, not the name. The protocol now for an educational arboretum
is to put the name (common and botanical) and inventory number on a tag readily visible to the public.

I believe the purpose of putting an inventory on a computer system was not designed to go tagless so much as it was designed to have computer accessible record keeping of the inventory and maintenance schedule.

Sylvia
 

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Re: Tree ID tags-alum. or plastic-nail or screw?

"I believe the purpose of putting an inventory on a computer system was not designed to go tagless so much as it was designed to have computer accessible record keeping of the inventory and maintenance schedule."

Agreed. My campus has a work order system that tracks work done on any asset. Up until my arrival the trees weren't a defined asset. since I'm doing work on the trees I want to be able to let everyone know which tree has been touched.

Ideally tags wouldn't be needed. But the reality is that I need them. By using screws I can back out the screw as needed. Over the weekend I had another idea. Using hex/phillips will make it easier too. A nut driver will grab a weathered/rusted hex better than a Phillips.
 
Re: Tree ID tags-alum. or plastic-nail or screw?

We have used volunteers to collect the data on the Trimble Geox handheld unit. A grand total of about 1 hr training and they have done an admirable job. The data is downloaded and the town is slowly building there inventory.
 
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