Smart Tree Management Webinar Presentation

Presentation from a webinar hosted by Urban & Community Forestry Society on how LiDAR, AI, & Machine Learning can assist with better urban forestry management.

2. SMART TREE
MANAGEMENT
From “Guess, Act, Pray” to “Assess, Prioritize, Act”
Josh Behounek
Davey Resource Group, Inc.

3. Make the RightDecision
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Should I
MONITOR
this tree?
Should I
PRUNE
this tree?
Should I
REMOVE
this tree?

4. Make the RightDecision
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Should I
MONITOR
this tree?
Should I
PRUNE
this tree?
Should I
REMOVE
this tree?

5. Make the Right Decision on the Right Tree
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Should I
MONITOR
this tree?
Should I
PRUNE
this tree?
Should I
REMOVE
this tree?

6. Make the Right Decision at the Right Time
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Should I
MONITOR
this tree?
Should I
PRUNE
this tree?
Should I
REMOVE
this tree?
When will I
RETURN
to this tree?

7. What is your current
Pruning Cycle?
A.Less than 5 years
B.5–10 years
C.10–20 years
D.More than 20 years
E.Other
Poll Question
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP

8. DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Today
Guess Act Pray

9. DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Smart Tree Management Program
Assess
Year 1
Prioritize
Years 1– 2
Act
Years 1– 2

10. DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Key Performance Indicators
Risk
Reduction
(80%)
•Reduced311 calls
•Reducedstorm response time
•Reducedtree-related judgements & payouts
Maintenance
Cost Efficiency
(25%)
•Betterpreventative maintenance
•Bettertree planting selection
Increased
Asset Life Span
(30%)
•Moreecosystem services
•Fewerannual removals
KPI

11. DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Key Performance Indicators
Risk
Reduction
(80%)
•Reduced311 calls
•Reducedstorm response time
•Reducedtree-related judgements & payouts
Maintenance
Cost Efficiency
(25%)
•Betterpreventative maintenance
•Bettertree planting selection
Increased
Asset Life Span
(30%)
•Moreecosystem services
•Fewerannual removals
KPI

12. DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Key Performance Indicators
Risk
Reduction
(80%)
•Reduced311 calls
•Reducedstorm response time
•Reducedtree-related judgements & payouts
Maintenance
Cost Efficiency
(25%)
•Betterpreventative maintenance
•Bettertree planting selection
Increased
Asset Life Span
(30%)
•Moreecosystem services
•Fewerannual removals
KPI

13. DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Key Performance Indicators
Risk
Reduction
(80%)
•Reduced311 calls
•Reducedstorm response time
•Reducedtree-related judgements & payouts
Maintenance
Cost Efficiency
(25%)
•Betterpreventative maintenance
•Bettertree planting selection
Increased
Asset Life Span
(30%)
•Moreecosystem services
•Fewerannual removals
KPI

14. Poll Question
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
How up-to-date is
your tree inventory?
A.Less than 5 years old
B.5–10 years old
C.10–20 years old
D.More than 20 years old
E.Other

15. DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
What Do We Know?

16. m
Technology won’t replace arborists, but
arborists who use technology will replace
arborists who do
not.
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Make the right decision on the right tree at the right time.

17. DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Smart Tree Management Program
Assess
Year 1
Prioritize
Years 1– 2
Act
Years 1– 2

18. Make the Right Decision
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Should I
MONITOR
this tree?
Should I
PRUNE
this tree?
Should I
REMOVE
this tree?

19. Current Budget
Current Program
Smart Tree Inventory
Outlier Analysis
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Smart Tree Management Program
Assess
Year 1

20. DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Current Budget & Program
CURRENT BUDGET
Tree Trimming $230,000.00
Tree Planting $150,000.00
Tree Removals $80,000.00
Tree Trimming
Customer Service
Request
$30,000.00
EAB Treatments $45,000.00
Tree Watering $20,000.00
Emergency
Tree Work
$6,500.00
CURRENT PROGRAM
Contracted Work
Tree Removed 80
Area Pruning Between 5,000 and 6,000
On-Call Trimming 120
Trees Planted 500
In-House Work
Trees Removed 200
Trees Trimmed 280

21. Create a Digital Twin
We capture a cm-accurate point cloud and
automaticallyidentify each tree.
Tree
Tree
Tree

22. Weanalyzeeachtreeand extractinformation.
DIGITAL TREE TWIN
Clearance Issues
Live Crown Ration
% Dieback
Ecological Benefits
Change Over Time
Cohort Analysis
Size (DBH, Height, etc.)
Species
Leaf Area Index
Leaning Angle

23. Trees of Concern (Outliers)
Change Analysis
Key Performance Indicators
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Smart Tree Management Program
Prioritize
Years 1– 2

24. Make the Right Decision on the Right Tree
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP

26. 0
1
2
3
4
5
Dieback Score
Leaf Area Index Score
Light Exposure Score
Live Crown Ratio Score
Leaf Area Score
Crown Volume Score
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Objective Vitality Score

27. Priority Removals
Priority Pruning
Preventative Maintenance
Plantings
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Smart Tree Management Program
Monitor
Years 1– 2

28. Make the Right Decision at the right time
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
Should I
MONITOR
this tree?
Should I
PRUNE
this tree?
Should I
REMOVE
this tree?
When will I
RETURN
to this tree?

30. Case Study
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
When will I
RETURN
to this tree?

31. Traditional Inventory
& Management Program
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
When will I
RETURN
to this tree?

33. Traditional Inventory
& Management Program
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
When will I
RETURN
to this tree?

34. Tree-Related Fatality Judgments
Against U.S. Municipalities
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
When will I
RETURN
to this tree?
CITY DECISION TREE FAILURE TYPE VICTIM IMPACT PAYMENT
Whittier, CA Settlement (2020) Whole tree failure—decayed
eucalyptus collapsed during wedding
1 woman killed,
multiple others injured
during wedding party
$28 million
Davis, CA Jury Verdict (2025)Limb failure—large branch fell in park Mother killed while
with child in park
$24.2 million
NYC (Central Park) Settlement (2020) Large limb failure—struck mother
and infant
6-month- old baby killed,
mother severely injured
$13.75 million
(city share ~$750k)
Oakland, CA Settlement (2018) Branch failure—decayed branch
broke during climbing
16-year-old boy killed $1.75 million
Pacific Grove, CA Settlement (2006) Large limb failure—diseased pine
branch fell in sanctuary
85-year-old woman killed $1 million
San Diego, CA Settlement (2018) Whole tree failure—Torrey pine
uprooted onto car
48-year-old woman killed
in her vehicle
$700,000
Portland, OR Settlement (2024) Limb failure—falling branch in park Man killed while walking
in park
$225,000

35. Smart Inventory &
Smart Management Program
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
When will I
RETURN
to this tree?

37. Smart Inventory &
Smart Management Program
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
When will I
RETURN
to this tree?

38. SMART TREE INVENTORYTRADITIONAL TREE INVENTORY
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
When will I
RETURN
to this tree?

39. Las Vegas, NV: Real Example
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
2009 Traditional Tree Inventory done by Arbor Pro

40. Las Vegas, NV: Real Example
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
2024 Smart Tree Inventory done by DRG & greehill

42. Las Vegas, NV: Real Example
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP

44. Reactive maintenance costs lives & millionswith most
programs still creating backlogs & having missed
inspection/maintenance opportunities.
✓
Key Takeaways
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP

45. Reactive maintenance costs lives & millionswith most
programs still creating backlogs & having missed
inspection/maintenance opportunities.
Proactive inventory & risk management can flag issues preventing tragedy, improving tree lifespans, and multi-
million-dollar judgments.
✓
✓
Key Takeaways
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP

46. Reactive maintenance costs lives & millionswith most
programs still creating backlogs & having missed
inspection/maintenance opportunities.
Proactive inventory & risk management can flag issues preventing tragedy, improving tree lifespans, and multi-
million-dollar judgments.
Investing in urban forestry programs (tree inventories,
regular inspections, & maintenance)is far cheaper & better
than reacting & defending wrongful death lawsuits.
Key Takeaways
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP
✓
✓
✓

47. THE FUTURE
IS NOW!
Josh Behounek
Business Developer
[email protected] 573.673.7530