Inventory / GIS software recommendations

[Stumpsprouts]

Hello,

Wondering who amongst us has done tree inventories, and if they wouldn’t mind talking shop for a minute. I’m working on a municipal inventory bid and just looking at my tech options.

I’ve used treeplotter in the past, which was nice… But I’m considering ArcGIS as it will integrate with the town’s maps more easily. I see there’s a steeper initial cost ($700 annual).

It looks like I can use a mobile phone to add map entries with ArcGIS, but I recognize I’ll get into work down the line where I have no signal. So wondering what folks like as far as devices as well.

I plan to do a lot more of this work in the years to come.

Also would be curious as to how folks price this work, although I recognize that’s asking a lot of strangers on the internet. This also involves TRAQ level 1 and 2 assessments, depending on targets etc.

Cheers!

 

[evo]

I don’t have much experience with that at all. A cellphones compass will give you coordinates but I’m sure there accuracy is dependent on coverage. I’ve used Gaia maps for a survey on Big Leaf Maple. Sometimes near coverage and other times without. We still took photos and notes on location but ball park was good enough for that project.
I wonder if the city would give you an account to use theirs? This would avoid the cost and data management of entering it on a alternate platform.

 

[Daniel]

 

[Stumpsprouts]

Thanks Daniel. That’s news I can use. I’ll check out Folcrum.