In the landscape department, we manage our urban forest with the help of ArcGIS, and generous support from the Geography Department, specifically Bill Hegman. We have over 2200 of the trees on campus named and spatially located. This is a management system where we track tree care, including pruning and fertilization, as well as pest management.

My Winter Term Class, Trees and the Urban Forest, has over multiple years made a StoryMap explaining some concepts in Urban Forestry, and some of their favorite trees, viewable at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/07badc686b6447928ffc5411bd3dc0a2 . 

In 2023 our campus tree map was moved to ArcGIS online (arcgis.com), and with the help of Sustainability Solutions Lab intern Charlie Deichman-Caswell we now have it available here. Using a smartphone the map is also viewable outside, and with location permissions turned on will find you on the map-no need for signs on trees anymore! For use outside on a phone visit the map directly at https://arcg.is/1HWW5i .

To use the map, start by choosing the collection of trees you are interested in (click on the eye icon to show/hide)-we’ve set the map up to start by displaying all trees. More options in the map legend on the lower right include all the memorial trees, all of our Heritage Elm trees, all our Ash, or a tree tour (that we’re still developing). Clicking on each dot will give you the name of the tree, then look for other information, such as the species information, or Tree Visits, where we record size information, and pictures for documentation. Questions? Try here.