Treetective: Using Panoramic, Ground-Level Imagery for Virtual Tree Inventories

The proposed research will evaluate the use of panoramic, street-level imagery to support and enhance community forestry. Similar to a windshield survey, these publicly available mapping resources can provide baseline data on tree species or genus, diameter, and condition that can be used to support future planting initiatives and best management practices. Furthermore, when combined with both manual and computer-assisted techniques, they offer new opportunities to perform first-pass street tree inventories regardless of weather or season, to supplement and quickly spot-check third-party inventory data, or even provide enough information for small and underserved communities to initiate community forestry programs for the first time.A healthy community forest can assist with stormwater mitigation efforts, shade buildings to save energy, improve air quality, increase property values, reduce noise and surface temperature levels, and positively impact human health. Having a current inventory of all street trees and tree planting sites is a critical component of planning and maintaining the community forest, but many communities are constrained by the investments in consulting costs or staff time that field-based inventories would require. Project objectives will include developing a software prototype that will enable even a single volunteer in a small community to perform first-pass tree inventories without ever leaving their computers. The results will be compared to more labor-intensive fieldwork to determine the software's real-world utility. Project reports will offer important insight into the potential of virtual tree inventories as a supplement or first-pass alternative to other types of inventories for small or underserved communities.