TRESYSTM: Tree Records System for Municipalities

Abstract

TRESYSTM is a computerized inventory and data processing service designed for the practical management of urban trees. A municipal arborist may modify its various features to adapt TRESYSTM to the particular needs of his own city or town. All inventory data is displayed in a directory to trees called Tree List. The variables are tabulated in a City Summary, which is used principally for planning, budgeting, and evaluating accomplishments. A Species Summary, which compares individual species or cultivars, is a useful guide for selecting trees to plant on different types of sites. Other optional products are available to improve efficiency of various operations. As work is performed, records are updated in Tree List, and new summaries may be obtained annually or at other intervals. A growing number of communities in several states has been using TRESYSTM since 1978, when it was first offered commercially. TRESYSTM also has been modified for managing trees on institutional properties such as university campuses, cemeteries, or industrial parks. Costs of installation and operation are modest, compared to the benefits and savings which can be realized.