What is this about?

• As in so many other areas, tree care is being revolutionized by the widespread availability of personal computers.
• Until recently, high prices and long learning times restricted computer access to a small group.
• Now, personal computers are easily affordable and accessible, and programs are becoming user-friendly.

• Easier and faster. Computers access large amounts of information easily, and handle repetitive functions, large data, and complicated tasks much better than people.
• Cheaper. Time is money. When you can find out quickly things like what condition a tree is in, whether it is in the ROW, or what diseases it is susceptible to, you save money.
• More professional. The more information you can easily access and incorporate into your daily work, the better you come off, whether you are in the private or the public sphere.

• COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

• Generic. Spreadsheets like Excel® or databases like Access® (Microsoft) are shipped now with most new computers, and have many uses. They are easily adapted to make simple but powerful inventories, for instance, where they can keep track of a tree’s location, health, history, and cost.
• Dedicated. Proprietary tree management programs such as TreeKeeper® (Davey Tree Co.) or Tree Manager® (ACRT) offer sophisticated data collection, analysis, and reporting possibilities. Programs such as City Green® (American Forests) can measure ecological factors and calculate tree worth.  

• WEBSITES

• Professionals. Terrific support can be found at websites of national (e.g., www.natlarb.com ) and professional organizations (e.g., natlarb.com or www.isa-arbor.com), as well as scientific (e.g., treefail.ucdavis.edu) and municipal groups (e.g., urban-forestry.com).  The ability to see pest information online (e.g., Branching Out) makes the tree professional's job significantly easier.  There are also excellent professional discussion groups, both private (e.g., tree-tech.com) and public (e.g., treelink.org/forum/).  Technical species information can be found on the Silvics, FEIS or Plants sites.
• Homeowners. There is great stuff at websites of arboretums (e.g., mortonarb.org or ars-grin.gov/ars/Beltsville/na), consumer groups (e.g., arborday.org or amfor.org), and even cities (e.g., treesny.com).  The Tree Link site is an excellent place to begin looking for information on community forestry.

• HANDHELD APPLICATIONS