i-Tree Eco

Application Overview

What does Eco do?

Eco is a tool that allows users to collect data on the entire urban forest and estimate the ecosystem services that the resource provides to the community. From project start to finish, Eco is a complete package that provides users with the following components:

• Detailed, statistically based sampling and data collection protocols. These protocols allow for estimation of totals and variation related to urban forest structure and population effects.
• An integrated Pocket PC-based PDA utility that facilitates efficient field data collection.
• A central computing engine that makes scientifically sound estimates of the effects of urban forests based on peer-reviewed scientific equations to predict environmental and economic benefits.
• Summary reports that include charts, tables, written report, and mapping tool that allows you to display several basic urban forest data without having access to GIS software and skills.

After tree data are collected and entered into Eco (either by uploading from PDAs or by doing manual entry), they are merged with local hourly weather and air pollution concentration data. These data make it possible to calculate structural and functional information using a series of scientific equations or algorithms. If a complete inventory is conducted (i.e., all trees are measured; a 100% sample), then Eco calculates values for each tree. If a sample is conducted (i.e., plots are randomly located within the area of analysis), then estimates for the total population along with estimate error are provided.

i-Tree Eco is currently designed to provide accurate estimates of:

• Urban forest structure (e.g., species composition, number of trees, tree density, tree health, etc.), analyzed by land-use type.
• Hourly amount of pollution removed by the urban forest, and associated percent air quality improvement throughout a year. Pollution removal is calculated for ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter (<10 microns).
• Hourly urban forest volatile organic compound emissions and the relative impact of tree species on net ozone and carbon monoxide formation throughout the year.
• Total carbon stored and net carbon annually sequestered by the urban forest.
• Effects of trees on building energy use and consequent effects on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.
• Compensatory value of the forest, as well as the value of air pollution removal and carbon storage and sequestration.
• Tree pollen allergenicity index.
• Potential impact of pests such as Gypsy moth, emerald ash borer, or Asian long-horned beetle.