TreePlotter™ Software from PlanIT Geo is a cloud-based urban forestry software solution designed specifically to support the plotting of tree inventories and the management of their data with a range of tools. Existing tree inventories can be imported, while new ones can be intuitively built by adding tree points and defining information attributes to an online map. Although GPS-capable, the browser-based application promises to replace typical GPS-powered inventory solutions with Geographic Information System (GIS) and web hosted technology accessible to any connected device.
Suited for deployment by towns, city and state planners, non-profits and private tree care firms; with subscription price plans capable of processing up to 4k, 40k and an unlimited number of trees. Core functionality features then go on to include multiple, secured user accounts with privilege permissions depending on the type of application. Users can then add/edit tree data points on the geographical map display, using the tree Details form to manage inventory information more quickly thanks to "Load Last" and geocoding services for auto-populating spatial details. Tree points can then be viewed within Google Maps' Street View, subject to local service support, with current map extents or the apps "interactive legend" options savable to a web URL for easy sharing. Other notable aspects include data export to CSV or shapefile format, a mass update tool for applying batch data changes to multiple trees, plus a selection of add-on modules for optional feature expansion.
Pros
Our organization needed a platform to 1) engage the public in plotting trees, and 2)help us manage our programs better. We reviewed several tree mapping software programs/providers, and chose to subscribe to Plan-it Geo's Tree Plotter system because we felt that the team and products would best suit our needs for the present and near future. The customer service is fast and attentive, with a skilled team that works with us to craft a custom map that we can use effectively. The software is user-friendly and highly customizable, which helps us create a tool that does what we want and looks how we want it to look. They also have several add-on tools that you can purchase when you have funding, or leave out if you don't need it. Being able to pay for what you need and not what you don't was a nice model for us.
Cons
As Plan-it Geo grows and evolves, we hope they will continue to take our suggestions to allow us (clients) the ability to customize some things on our own. It really helps speed things up if we are able to make some changes to our Tree Plotter map structure without asking them first. I think the only thing that is still an issue is some slowness and incompatibility with various Apple devices. It works great on android devices I've used, but many of our users with iPhones can have a tougher time with loading the map/features quickly. Any other things we've expressed a desire to see changed has been taken into consideration and they've shown that they value our feedback and make changes based on client wishes - which is awesome!
Elise-
Thank you so much for such a wonderful and thought out review! We appreciate you taking the time to do so! We've enjoyed working with you and your team to help make Tree Plotter work for you all, and look forward to doing so into the future.
Thanks again!
Matt & Plan-It Geo
Pros
I work in the Idaho Community Forestry Program. The State is supplying Tree Plotter at no cost to Idaho cities so that a statewide tree inventory is developed. It's easy to train volunteers or employees to use, it's cloud based including photos of the individual trees. And, the reports generated from inventory results offer much needed information that influences urban forestry management and planning decisions. The accuracy of the GPS coordinates is terrific, this helps not only for street trees, but for locating trees growing in parks and green ways. Data collection can be done using any device that has an internet connection, eliminating the need for expensive equipment such as a Trimble.
Cons
Tree Plotter uses Bing or Google maps. It's been my experience that one or the other contains more current imagery. But when you log on to collect data, Bing maps are the default map, even though Google maps may be more current. I'd like it if there were a way to set the default to whichever map was more useful. Also, at least in the Idaho Tree Plotter program, when collecting DBH information, only even inch measurements can be recorded. Measuring growth over time, especially in younger trees, requires measurements to the 1/10th of an inch to accurately assess how vigorous a tree is growing.
Thank you so much for your review! I am happy Tree Plotter is helping you be more effective in caring for Idaho's urban forests.
Our new App Manager will be out soon that will allow you to customize things like default base map, and fields and values. We will keep you posted when this is released.
Thanks again!
-Evan
The customizing process was very well handled by the Plan-It Geo staff. They asked lots of questions and made quick changes and updates as Forestry staff began to use the software and found things they didn't like or wanted in another place in the database. As Forestry staff have continued to evolve the database whenever they needed assistance with Tree Plotter by either sending an email or by using the in app support responses were quick.
Pros
Completely customizable to include whatever information you want to collect.
Scalable to your needs: Tree Plotter can be a simple, basic tree inventory database or by adding desired modules it can become a full fledged work management system. Or you can do appraisals or risk assessments. Its up to your needs and budget.
Information can be exported for use in ArcGIS.
Some lists you can edit yourself such as adding tree species, there by speeding up adding new trees to your inventory and not needing to send a support ticket to have a tree name added.
Cons
By fully customizing and scaling the software up with modules it can take a little while to understand where different parts of your data is located and how to use the filters to find what you want.
Cellular and Wi-Fi connections or having a very large database can slow down the process of adding data. However Tree Plotter does have work around for this such as off line data.
Thank you for the detailed review Greg! We appreciate you taking the time to do so, and your feedback is always valued. Please let us know if there is anything we can help you with!
The simplistic user interface makes it easy to learn and use, but having the data input window scroll and reset each time a data field is entered takes time to scroll back to the next data field to enter and is frustrating. The background aerial photos work well, but we want to be able to zoom to smaller scale in the Google Earth Map than the overall Tree Plotter subscription for the aerials allows. We usually download the shp files and make our own ArcGIS maps so we can input our company title block and needed labeling, and to allow for setting the print scale to not have overlapping points.
We continue to use and expand our use of Tree Plotter, and continue to provide useful feedback and revision ideas to Plan It Geo staff for improving the program. Thanks for working with us for a better shared environment.
Pros
Operates well in any mobile device we have used from tablets and handheld data recorders to phones. The real time and multi user environment allows us to both monitor our staff in the field and also for everyone to work cooperatively in completing inventories and damage assessments. We use Tree Plotter for full landscape inventories and contractor work audits, as well as tree surveys and tree inventories.
Cons
We do not want our work, or our client list, to be visible to others, as we have many competitive advantages and legally protected work products in our projects. Having our Tree Plotter account visible to anyone who can enter the url has been an issue for us that we want resolved so our account is not publically visible at all.
Hi John-
Thanks for the review! We appreciate it. Also, we'll be reaching out regarding the data visibility you mentioned and hopefully taking care of that for you.
This has been incredibly helpful for our data collection methods, which were previously collected on paper then inputted in to the computer. It has streamlined this process to a great extent!
Pros
Efficient data collection. Ease of use. Data compilation to show summary. Sorting capabilities.
Cons
Have had some glitches, including data incorrectly calculating.
Difficulty to attach photos in the field (however that may be a problem with our connection..)
Would like to have parcel information available - click for property owner info would be helpful.
Thanks for the review Katie! We are glad that Tree Plotter has helped your workflow. Adding parcel information is certainly possible within the application and can be done a few different ways depending on the data format.
Base (up to 4000trees) = $1,500 per year
Complete 1 Yr (up to 40k trees) = $3,000 per year
Complete 3 Yr (up to 40k trees) = $8,000 for 3 years
Treemium = Contact for custom quote
(Add-on feature modules available at additional cost)
Below are some frequently asked questions for Tree Plotter.
Tree Plotter offers the following pricing plans:
Starting from: $1500/year
Pricing model: Free, Subscription
Free Trial: Available
Base (up to 4000trees) = $1,500 per year
Complete 1 Yr (up to 40k trees) = $3,000 per year
Complete 3 Yr (up to 40k trees) = $8,000 for 3 years
Treemium = Contact for custom quote
(Add-on feature modules available at additional cost)
Tree Plotter offers the following features:
Tree Plotter has the following typical customers:
Large Enterprises, Mid Size Business, Non Profit, Public Administrations, Small Business
Tree Plotter supports the following languages:
Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Taiwanese, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian
Tree Plotter has the following pricing plans:
Free, Subscription
We do not have any information about what devices Tree Plotter supports
Tree Plotter integrates with the following applications:
Facebook, Microsoft Excel, Twitter
Tree Plotter offers the following support options:
FAQs, Knowledge Base, Online Support, Phone Support, Video Tutorials
With Tree Plotter we engage the public to plot private yard trees on our map, view public trees, and take self-guided tree walks. This enables us to better understand the composition of our urban forest and associated ecosystem benefits calculations. Not to mention, people will learn about the trees around them and hopefully become more informed about trees and advocate for planting and proper care. Tree Plotter also allows us to track our organization's tree planting and tree care activities on a digital map, for the first time! We also engage volunteers to survey trees in several programs, providing regular data on the status and needed care for young urban trees.