i-Tree is a state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed software suite from the USDA Forest Service that provides urban and community forestry analysis and benefits assessment tools.
The current release of the i-Tree suite has been in development for over 10 years as individual components. For the first time, complete support of the software is available to the user through any of the means listed on the i-tree support page.
Recommended Users:
i-Tree can be used by communities of all sizes to strengthen their urban and community forest management efforts. It can also be used by state forestry agencies, municipal foresters, non-profit tree advocates, commercial arborists, environmental consultants, planners, and others interested in their community forests and the environmental benefits they produce.
i-Tree Components
The i-Tree software suite 2.0 includes the following urban forest analysis tools:
UFORE (Urban Forest Effects Model) is designed to use standardized field data from randomly located plots throughout a community, along with local hourly air pollution and meteorological data, to quantify urban forest structure, environmental effects and value to communities.
STRATUM (Street Tree Resource Analysis Tool for Urban forest Managers) utilizes a sample or complete tree inventory to describe tree management needs and quantify the value of annual environmental and aesthetic benefits such as energy conservation, air quality improvement, CO2 reduction, storm water control, and property value increases.
In addition to the analysis programs, the suite includes the following management applications & utilities:
MCTI (Mobile Community Tree Inventory) is a basic tree inventory application that allows communities to conduct tree inventories and manage those records. Data can be collected and entered into the program using paper tally sheets or Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) using new or existing inventories.
The Storm Damage Assessment Protocol provides a standardized method to assess widespread storm damage in a simple, credible, and efficient manner immediately after a severe storm. It is adaptable to various community types and sizes, and provides information on the time and funds needed to mitigate storm damage.
The Species Selector (Beta) is free-standing Utility designed to help determine the most appropriate tree species for selected urban forest functions based on geographic area.
Integrated Tree Inventory Utilities are made available to collect field data on PDAs for STRATUM/MCTI and UFORE. SDAP provides the same tool for recording data related to the evaluation of storm damage.
The Sample Inventory Generators automate, within a Geographic Information System (GIS), the process of drawing a random sample for UFORE, STRATUM, and SDAP projects.
Feedback
The i-Tree Development Team actively seeks feedback on any component of the project: the software suite itself, the User's Manual, or the administrative structure set up for dissemination, delivery, training and support. Please send us comments through any of the means listed on the i-Tree support page.
With feedback from you, these tools will continue to be updated and improved upon!
For the latest information on i-Tree development and release dates, visit our "What's New?" page. Keep current on the lastest availability information by signing up to receive the i-Tree newsletter.
