Tree Care Technology A personal digital assistant (PDA) pro- vides a low-cost alternative to more expensive systems for collecting data on public and private trees. Many PDA pro- grams are available for use by arborists and tree managers. Introduction Until recently, the collection of tree in- ventory data has involved the use of expensive hand-held computerized data recorders or simple paper systems to record information on the type, size, condition, health, and maintenance requirements of public and private trees. Whether one was inventorying trees growing along public streets, on private property or in recreation areas such as golf courses, collecting and managing the information required equip- ping inventory personnel with hand-held data recorders costing thousands, or in- volved costly data entry once the field work was completed. Today, low-cost solutions to field data collection and stor- age needs are available, using Personal Digital Assistants, or PDA’s, collectively referred to as Palm Pilots. These hand-held devices are inexpensive, easy to use and Photos by Edward Coughlin, Springfield Parks Department Tree Inventories: In the Palm of Your Hand By Dr. David V. Bloniarz, Shaun V. Phelan, M.Ed. and Dr. H. Dennis P. Ryan State-of-the-art technology is providing arborists with new, affordable inventory tools, making fieldwork more efficient and less costly. The PDA is one of the more useful advances for complet- ing field surveys. 56 TREE CARE INDUSTRY - NOVEMBER 2001 offer an affordable solution to many us- OS are offered here. books were replaced by computer spread- ers’ data collection needs. The primary requirement to operate sheets, the PDA is increasingly becoming Whether you are developing a munici- the PDA inventory programs outlined the tool of choice for business mangers. pal tree inventory system, tracking the here are that they be capable of running Arborists, consultants, and tree wardens health of park trees, managing trees grow- the Palm OS and have a minimum of can take advantage of many PDA programs ing on golf courses, or cataloging trees for 2MB of memory. Other functions, such that provide specific tools for the indus- homeowner clients, the use of a PDA can as a color screen, increased memory or try, and can adapt others that are used by increase efficiency, reduce the potential for a cellular modem, are not needed to op- other professions. data input error, and improve the timely erate most inventory programs, but may Several commercial tree vendors pro- reporting of data. Eliminating the need for increase personal productivity or com- vide PDA and other hand-held computer manual data entry following field collec- fort. Choosing a PDA for your needs will programs for use in the industry, includ- tion activities adds to efficiency and direct the final cost and configuration of ing tree inventory operations. These are reduces the cost of this inventory program. what you ultimately purchase, and can generally linked to desktop database ap- The use of inexpensive PDA’s enables range from $150 to nearly $500. The plications that are used to archive and one-time entry of data while working in the more memory that your PDA contains, study data. These programs offer valu- field, eliminating the need to own or rent the less likely you will be to overload its able data-management capabilities to costly equipment, or complete timely data- storage capacity, eliminating frequent municipalities, commercial tree care transfer procedures after returning to the downloads of data to a desktop com- firms, consultants and tree managers. office. Typically, a PDA capable of record- puter. Increased memory will raise the Data collection is usually accomplished ing tree inventory information can be cost, so you should closely examine costs using a PDA or other hand-held data re- purchased for about $150. Inventory soft- and benefits of the additional investment. corder or computer. For a list of NAA ware is available for free, or can be obtained Only five years ago, a street tree in- members who sell computer arborist- from a variety of sources at affordable costs. ventory was completed by community specific software, call 1-800-733-2622. Ultimately all of the data collected on a volunteers in Brookline, Mass., who used The USDA Forest Service Northeast PDA will be downloaded to a database Husky Hunter 16 data recorders, which Center for Urban & Community For- operating on a personal computer. There- sold for over $1,200 each. At that time estry, in cooperation with the University fore, the PDA should be viewed as a the purchase or lease of the hand-held of Massachusetts/Amherst and the City data-collection tool, from which data will units was clearly unaffordable for many of Springfield, Mass., Park Department be transferred to a spreadsheet, database communities or commercial firms, which has developed programs for public dis- or standalone inventory management pro- is dramatically different than the situa- tribution, and they can be downloaded gram. Its usefulness is to streamline field tion today. Outfitting a cadre of from http://www.umass.edu/urbantree/ data collection operations, but is not sub- community volunteers or staff with palm/. The applicability of these pro- stitute for the use of fully trained, proficient today’s current technology is fully af- grams for tree managers is outlined here. field personnel. However, the use of a PDA fordable in most cases. complements the use of skilled staff and In the event that you are purchasing Pendragon Forms data makes their work in the field more efficient many units, it is best to buy the same type and cost effective. and capability, so that if a unit goes out collection system of service it can be replaced or shared One popular Palm OS software pro- The computer with another user. This redundancy will gram, Pendragon Forms 3.1, is available reduce downtime during your inventory for under $175. It allows for easy collec- backbone operations and ensure that all users are tion and processing of tree survey data, The Palm Operating System (OS) is one fully skilled in the use of your units. or any other digital databases, for that of the most common computer platforms matter. This software can be used to cre- on which PDA’s function. Several manu- Palm-based solutions ate customized database templates for facturers produce PDA’s that use the Palm Many Palm OS programs are available tree surveys, or other data collection OS, including Handspring, Sony and Palm for use in PDA’s, and many can be useful needs, such as work orders, without spe- Pilot. Each of these companies produce to the arborist, tree manger or consultant. cific programming experience. This products which utilize the same computer Business applications range from easy-to-use program allows the user to program to operate, therefore individual datebooks and address books to mileage develop PDA collection templates, using preferences will determine which and travel logs. A seemingly endless pal- the Pendragon Forms program, which manufacturer’s product a user chooses. ette of applications are available for can be modified, updated or revised While other manufacturers and operating purchase or free download via the Internet, based on particular needs. Additionally, systems are available, the Palm OS is the enabling PDA users to become truly “digi- the USDA Forest Service has created two most widely used system today. Therefore, tal” in their approach to data management. public domain inventory database tem- tree inventory tools that utilize the Palm In the same manner that paper ledger plates, available for download, that TREE CARE INDUSTRY - NOVEMBER 2001 57 Data collection using a personal digi- utilize Pendragon Forms software. These tal assistant provides field personnel templates can be downloaded and used with a lightweight, inexpensive and “as is” on a PDA, or modified by the user. easy-to-use tool for collecting data on trees and transferring it to a database A street tree inventory template and a program on a desktop computer. hazard tree rating template are also available for download. Pendragon Forms allows for flexibility and customizing of the data-collection pro- cess, and enables the user to develop additional electronic forms that can be used to track information related to your tree management operations. However, the templates available for free download are fully functional, and incorporate key in- ventory criteria, such as species, size, condition and maintenance needs. These templates demonstrate the capability of the software while providing PDA data-collec- tion tools that can serve as the foundation for tree inventory and hazard management operations you may undertake. In addition to using Pendragon Forms for inventory data collection, it is very easy to build custom database input forms for collecting information on a variety of tasks, ranging from work or- ders to equipment maintenance. The program enables the user to recreate tra- ditional paper forms in digital form for use on a PDA. No special programming experience is required, and can be ac- complished using the Reference Guide Pendragon Forms software allows the user to customize data that is supplied with the software. collection forms on a personal computer, for use on a PDA. Sample templates are also included with Custom input forms such as this one can be created with mini- the program, allowing the user to exam- mal technical expertise. ine various capabilities of the program. More information on the Pendragon Forms is available at http:// www.pendragonsoftware.com. A free, The MCTI login screen allows users to identify the community, the range tree identification numbers and inventory personnel. The MCTI screens duplicate data entry fields that might be found on a paper- based inventory tally sheet. 58 TREE CARE INDUSTRY - NOVEMBER 2001 14-day evaluation copy is available at level of the MCTI process; others may want formation, paper data is very difficult to the site, enabling use of the templates to start at the first step.