How tree asset management software enhances tree inspection and maintenance
The importance of using tech and data for local authority tree management
Data is everywhere, increasing exponentially every second. This explosion of useful data has led to efficiencies, cost savings and a deeper understanding across many industries. At our Tree SMART Live event in January, James Bailey, Assistant Director of Highways at Staffordshire County Council explored the value of using tech and data within tree management and the potential benefits of sharing data across the council.
Staffordshire is a rural county, with over 500,000 highway trees spread over a sizeable geographic area. Historically, tree management had been sporadic, only occurring within a larger project, or occasional reactive work. Now, with pressures on public sector funding, and a squeeze on resources, the Council also saw an increased expectation from a better-informed society, creating a very different backdrop against which to work.
Challenges and Opportunities
Staffordshire County Council encountered many challenges on their journey to creating a new approach, which they were able to view as opportunities.
Reducing costs: Excellent financial management was essential. With local authorities feeling the pressure to manage public-funded resources, value for money needs to be demonstrated for every pound spent. Staffordshire saw an opportunity to coordinate works, looking at better planning and taking a proactive approach to save money in the long-term.
Economic: With over 500,000 trees classified as ‘on the highway’, Staffordshire was presented with a complicated environment to manage. They realised they could use data and other information to quantify the asset and put plans in place to prove value for money.
Legalities: The council understood that if they didn’t know the state of their tree stock, they couldn’t be sure they were satisfying all legal requirements. By quantifying their stock, it was easier to target resources. This gave them evidence to support their decisions and take a risk-based approach. Like any work in the public realm, there was detailed interest from wider society, so they armed themselves with as much evidence - information, plans and records - as possible.
Social Value: Staffordshire saw this as a chance to improve public spaces, investigating tree planting programmes. They saw this as an opportunity to not just manage the trees, but influence outcomes, making spaces for people to live happier, healthier lives.
Environmental: Net zero targets are a hot topic, and trees have a potentially great impact on the success of hitting those targets, as well as other environmental benefits. Collecting and using data to build business cases allowed Staffordshire to make compelling arguments for funding, not just for managing existing stock but for future plans and preventative action. With such a huge range of services competing for funding, data and reliable information make all the difference when making a case for budget allocation.
Politics: Differing opinion makes for a diverse world, and it’s no different with trees. Negative opinions were voiced about leaf drop, shade, bird sheltering and more. Staffordshire highlighted the overwhelming benefits of improving the public realm, partnering with other council services for efficiency, working smarter and nurturing relationships for mutually beneficial outcomes.
Continuing the journey
With a wealth of collected data, software and systems – and the capability to develop those – along with automated surveys and aspirations to adopt smarter ways of working, Staffordshire is taking positive steps towards improving their tree management strategy. They have found that creating a digital infrastructure speeds progression, allowing an increase in knowledge and faster decision-making. There is great potential for changes to be made, achieving smarter ways of working, better value and improved outcomes.
KaarbonTech has been working with Staffordshire County Council to help them on their tree management journey. We are working through a programme to survey 71,000 trees in the first year, using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) surveying to create this initial inventory of trees within falling distance of highways. This includes all B roads, town centres and priority hotspots, giving Staffordshire a starting point for precise risk-based tree management.
The free LiDAR datasets allow us to identify the quantities of trees, heights and canopy coverage. We then add this data to our Tree SMART software to assist with creating an accurate, prioritised survey programme to focus time, money and resources.
We plan to increase surveying by 34,000 each year, improving processes, increasing efficiencies and continuing to build a better picture of the tree stock. See our Staffordshire case study to find out more about our partnership.