Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 44(2): March 2018 for TC2015. Variables were collected per tree unless otherwise specified. Description 2015 changes The need to collect metadata was completely eliminated in TC2015 because these variables were auto-populated by the web application. Any variables not auto-populated could be determined using GIS post-collection. 53 TreeKIT methodology, in conjunction with webapp, eliminated the need for users to enter most locational data. Blockedge (previously On Street), and Starting Point were selected from a map rather than being written out, and Side of Street was collected as simple ‘leſt’ or ‘right’ by clicking a button. All omitted variables could be obtained via GIS. All variables, barring Trunk Damage, were retained from previous inventories, with the addition of Tree Status and Species Certainty. Tree Condition: In previous inventories, this variable encompassed both structural descriptors (e.g., stump, shaſt) and vitality ratings (e.g., excellent, good); in 2015 it only included the vitality ratings of ‘Good,’ ‘Fair,’ and ‘Poor’. ‘Excellent’ was included in previous inventories but was omitted because site conditions prevent most street trees from having excellent vitality. Tree Status: The structural descriptors previously encompassed by Tree Condition were noted by this variable. The structures were simplified into ‘Alive,’ ‘Dead,’ and ‘Stump’ from ‘Excellent,’ ‘Good,’ ‘Fair,’ ‘Poor,’ ‘Shaſt,’ ‘Dead,’ ‘Stump,’ and ‘Empty Pit.’ Empty pits were omitted because NYC Parks felt they could determine those locations from geospatial analysis. Circumference & Stump Diameter: DBH was included in 2005, but abandoned for circumference in 2015 because participants oſten used the wrong side of the double-sided DBH tapes. Stump measurements were recorded as diameter at the widest point in all three inventories. Species & Species Certainty: For species identification all inventories provided an identification guide to participants. Previous inventories included an ‘unknown’ option for those that could not identify a tree; this option was removed in 2015 and replaced by Species Certainty for which participants could answer ‘Yes,’ ‘Maybe,’ or ‘No.’ This allowed participants to decrease the amount of time spent deciding between two similar-looking species and still provide information that could still assist foresters in identifying a tree. Tree Support and Overhead Wires were not retained from previous inventories because they are not operationally actionable. Tree Problems: This variable was a restructured version of Infrastructure Conflicts from 2005. This variable encompasses active conflict (contact) with surrounding infrastructure. For Tree Problems, problems were broken down by the part of the tree structure they afflicted (branch, trunk, or roots), making the responses more pointed and identifiable to foresters who would be visiting these trees to address them. Previously problems were not grouped, but listed individually, some of which could have afflicted multiple parts of the tree structure. Pit Type, Soil Level, and Horizontal Treatment were not included in TC2015. Tree Guards: This variable was an overhauled version of Vertical Treatment from 2005. In 2005 the type of tree guard was noted (perimeter guard, horse guard). For this variable, only perceived helpfulness to the tree (‘Helpful,’ Harmful,’ ‘Unsure’) was noted. These data were to be used for an NYC Parks effort to identify and remove harmful tree guards. These helpfulness categories also introduced the opportunity to teach participants about good steward- ship practices. Stewardship: This variable was a new addition to the inventory, and noted quantity of stewardship. It was included because research determined that the quantity (not type) of stewardship at a tree correlates with tree mortality. Sidewalk Damage: This variable has been included in all three inventories to help with determine funding for ___ and notes simple presence or absence of sidewalk damage. ©2018 International Society of Arboriculture
March 2018
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