STRATUM Data Collection and Analysis: Baltimore

STRATUM Data Collection and Analysis: Baltimore

Baltimore’s 2007 Sample Survey Background

TreeBaltimore Why a survey? Why a sample? Why iTree?

Baltimore’s 2007 Sample Survey Partners & Division of Labor

Baltimore City Department of Recreation & Parks (TreeBaltimore & Forestry)

Training & equipment Baltimore City Department of Planning

Technical, data review, QA/QC Parks & People Foundation

Volunteer management & project logistics

Baltimore’s 2007 Sample Survey Timeline

Planning began in April Training occurred in June Surveying occurred throughout July QA/QC began mid-way through

surveying and is wrapping up now

Baltimore’s 2007 Sample Survey Survey Structure

Random selection of 500 sample blocks PDA vs. Paper

Paper option served as a backup Using in concert with a GPS in the field

No benefit when sampling

Baltimore’s 2007 Sample Survey Logistical Structure

City divided into five sections Volunteers put in groups of two or three

Partners changed frequently Schedules produced on a weekly basis Parks & People office was the hub for volunteer

check in and out

Working With Volunteers Pools of interested volunteers

Utilized contact and distribution lists of all partners

Expectations and time commitments Volunteer expertise

Tree Identification PDAs Knowledge of Baltimore streets

Working With Volunteers Training

Four hour training prior to surveying Some additions/revisions added Could have had more extensive

mentoring during beginning of survey period

Volunteer support materials

Analysis

Data Quality As function of training QA/QC during and after data collection

Inputting data into STRATUM

Lessons Learned Things you won’t find in the manual

Logistics Weather concerns Safety iTree database setup

Lessons Learned Lessons Learned

The danger of the two sided dbh tape Spend more time on design & planning Be in touch w/volunteers in the field Start QA/QC early No need for dividing city into sections Better tracking of block assignments for QA/QC Pre-testing, pre-testing, pre-testing

Helpful Hints Some helpful tips

T-shirts – good to have something to identify surveyors

Equip surveyors with info about project Prioritize what information needs to be collected Plan to complete more surveying than needed Thank your volunteers!