i-Tree Eco

Complete Inventory

Performing a complete inventory

Eco users interested in conducting a complete inventory are encouraged to use the integrated PDA utility for Pocket PCs. Users will be able to tailor data collection for the particular needs of their projects or use the default data collection fields for speed and full utilization of Eco's analysis and reporting features. Using the PDA utility not only leads to faster data collection and input, but facilitates direct data transfer. Eco users can also choose to use field data collection forms for paper and pencil inventories which can then be manually entered into the application.

Field data inputs & results

The data needs for an Eco inventory project are straightforward as plots are not required (see the Manual for details). For complete inventories, Eco field data is collected on trees only until every tree in the study area has been measured. Therefore, Eco inventory project results will not be as extensive as a sample inventory project and results will be reported for individual trees and summarized for the entire study population. Inventory results will provide structural analysis, carbon sequestration and carbon storage, CTLA tree value and annual pollution removal (See Eco Inventory Report Table Examples).

Eco requires that a basic set of measurements be made on each tree to obtain baseline results from the program. Minimally, species and DBH, along with height and crown characteristics are collected to receive information on individual tree structure, carbon storage and sequestration and air pollution removal. Because the collection of field data is one of the most time-consuming and costly parts of the Eco analysis process, careful selection of field data attributes is recommended (see the Manual for details).

Importing Existing Data into an Eco Inventory project

Users can import existing inventory data into an Eco complete inventory project if the required Eco tree variables such as tree height, bole height & crown width are measured on each tree, along with information on species, diameter at breast height (4.5 feet), crown dieback, percent missing in crown and crown light exposure. Species codes must also be converted to Eco species codes. Although most typical tree inventories may not have all these measurements, users conducting park or campus tree type inventories can set up future projects to collect and import required data into an Eco complete inventory project for structural characterics and ecosystem services estimates. (See Eco Inventory Report Table Examples).

Weather and pollutant concentration inputs

In addition to field data inputs, location specific weather and air pollution inputs are required. These data are available for the United States for the year 2000 and used, by default, in the analysis.

Hourly weather data are necessary to analyze:

• volatile organic compound emissions
• air pollution removal by the urban forest
• relative ranking of species effects on air quality
• tree transpiration
• air pollution data

Hourly pollution concentration data are required to analyze:

• air pollution removal by the urban forest
• relative ranking of species effects on air quality

Boundary layer data

• Twice daily sounding measurements are needed to calculate percent air quality improvement due to pollution removal.