Course title: Use of iTree tools in urban forest management: advantages and

limitations.
Instructor: David Nowak (PhD, US-NRS-FS)
Coordinator: Elvia Melndez-Ackerman (Ph.d. University of Puerto Rico
[email protected]).
Location: A211/NCN114/Env Sci Computer Lab (Natural Sciences Building) / UPR
Grounds* (*Location is subject to change so please keep up with your email
correspondence)
General Schedule: The course will attend one lecture (most likely the CIAMs Dept
seminar) on the 10th and will meet daily 11-13 (Friday-Sunday) (NCN 114 or Env Sci
Computer Lab* Friday to Saturday). * Location subject to change
Course Information Platform: Dropbox We have prepared a folder with documents
that you will find useful before, during and after the course. You should be receiving a
link to this folder soon. If you do not please contact the course coordinator.
Language of instruction: English
Description: This course will be taught in a three-day mini-course format and will focus
on the analysis and management of forest data for the evaluation of ecosystem services
using the iTree suite of tools. These tools, developed by the United States Forest
Service and being applied in many cities throughout the world, are used to evaluate the
eco-system services provided by trees and produce information that can be used for
forest management. A focus of this course will be on the assessment of forest
resources in urban sites based on the vision that the ecological services that offer these
resources are important for human welfare and for the proper functioning of urban
areas. The objectives of the course are as follows: 1) To develop an understanding
about the conglomerate of iTree tools with emphasis on iTree Canopy/ Landscape,
iTree-Eco/Species and iTree Design, 2) To understand the applications and limitations
of these tools for the evaluation and research on urban ecosystem services, 3) To train
participants in the generation of useful intellectual products that can help communicate
information about ecological services provided by the green infrastructure of cities to the
general public and to interdisciplinary working groups.
Instruction method: lectures and practical exercises (computer lab and field work),
discussion sessions and participant presentations.
Required for second day of the workshop: Please bring water bottle, hat, small
backpack, sunblock, umbrella and comfortable clothes on second day of the workshop
as a large portion of the day will be spent outside doing field work.

Required Readings:

Nowak, D.J., R.E. Hoehn, D.E. Crane, J.C. Stevens, J.T. Walton, and J. Bond. 2008. A groundbased method of assessing urban forest structure and ecosystem services. Arboric. Urb. For.
34(6):347-358. http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/1952

iTree Canopy (technical notes first two pages only) http://www.itreetools.org/canopy/resources/iTree_Canopy_Methodology.pdf

Required Videos:

i-Tree Suite & tree benefit introduction - 16 min. (.mp4) http://www.itreetools.org/resources/videos/general/iTree_suite_intro_UWEX.mp4

i-Tree Canopy Overview - 5 min. (.mp4)

iTree Eco Plot Establishment Videos

1.

Basic Eco sample plot establishment - 2 min. (.mp4) - This video demonstrates how to lay out
a simple 1/10 acre plot for an Eco sample project.
http://www.itreetools.org/resources/videos/eco/plot_variables/Simple_Plot_Layout.mp4

2.

Eco wooded plot establishment - 3 min. (.mp4) - This video demonstrates how to lay out an
Eco sample plot partially in a wooded area.
http://www.itreetools.org/resources/videos/eco/plot_variables/Establishing_Wooded_Plot.mp4

3.

Measuring plot reference object - 2 min. (.mp4) - This video demonstrates how to measure a
reference or permanent object from an established eco plot center.
http://www.itreetools.org/resources/videos/eco/plot_variables/Plot_Reference_Object.mp4

Eco Tree Measurements videos

1.

i-Tree Eco - Basic tree height measurements - 9 min. (.mp4) - This video explains how to
measure total tree height, height to live top, and height to crown base measurements for an
Eco project.
i-Tree Eco - Basic tree height measurements - 9 min. (.mp4)

2.

Simple tree DBH measurement - 2 min. (.mp4) - This video demonstrates how to measure a
single stem tree (DBH) diameter at breast height.
http://www.itreetools.org/resources/videos/eco/tree_variables/Single_Stem_Tree_DBH.mp4

Suggested Videos (not required):

i-Tree Species Overview - 5 min. (.mp4) - This overview video demonstrates how to use the iTree Species desktop application.
http://www.itreetools.org/resources/videos/species/iTree_Species_Overview.mp4

Using i-Tree Hydro to Model Green Infrastructure Webinar- 93 min. - This webinar features
Hydro Development Team members discussing various ways that the i-Tree Hydro model can
be used for modeling green infrastructure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfTjHs7fQKI&feature=youtu.be

THREE-DAY WORKSHOP - PRELIMINARY AGENDA - Day 1 AM - 8:00a-12:00m*

Introduction to iTree Tools (Overview)

iTree Canopy introduction

iTree Canopy (guided hands-on exercises)

Day 1 PM 1:00p-4:30p
Participant Presentations and discussion of iTree Canopy results (canopy cover comparison)
iTree ECO/Species introduction
Creating new project
Preparing for Data Collection with paper
Field exercises/demonstrations on campus
o Setting up Eco-sample plots (wooded, non-wooded areas, inaccessible plot centers)
o Height / DBH measurements
o Crown variables (Crown width,% crown missing, crown dieback, crown light exposure)
o Land use/cover estimation
Day 2 AM -8:00a-12:00m
- Field Data Collection iTree ECO will use paper format This exercise will be done on Campus
Day 2- PM PM 1:00p-4:30p
Data Entry - participants
iTree Eco reports short overview
Report Generation participants discuss results internally and present group summaries
Day 3 (11:00p-2:30p)
iTree Hydro
iTree Design
Wrap up
* some topics may be subject to change