Urban forest inventory:  UFORE pilot project at Auburn University

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Urban Forestry involves the planning, establishment, protection, and management of trees and associated plants, individually, in small groups, or under forested conditions within different metropolitan areas (Cites, suburbs, towns, etc.). Programs within the discipline often include the following: Program planning, tree inventories, tree planting, tree maintenance, tree preservation and public education. These elements are not mutually exclusive. As part of the planning process, an inventory of tree resources is a fundamental initial phase for most programs. Street tree inventories have been commonplace, but given the use of advanced technologies one is now able to determine the benefits (C sequestration, cooling, reduction in pollutants, etc.) and liabilities (hazards, encroachment with power-lines, etc.) of the entire urban forest. In that vein, we are using a computer-based model (UFORE) to analyze field-collected data to provide information on the urban forest structure and function on the campus of Auburn University. The project is interdisciplinary in nature involving investigators from The School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences, Horticulture and the US Forest Service. The overall goal is to develop a 100% inventory of trees on the core campus of Auburn University using the UFORE protocol for the purpose of validating model components in the region, and investigating extended and optimal use of the program. An addition goal is to provide a database that can be utilized by University personnel in planting and maintaining adequate greenspace on campus. Specific objectives include: 1) Conduct a 100% inventory in UFORE compatible form and complete GIS database layer from the data (i.e. tree locations will be captured); 2) Analyze model components relative to southern species & models, and make UFORE plot sampling comparisons with the 100% inventory; and 3) Develop class & field training material and conduct a regionally advertised training class for UFORE including QA/QC components. A graduate student: Nick Martin (MS) is conducting research on different aspects of this project.