Urban Forestry Tree Inventory

Background

The City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department (APR) manages over 20,582 acres of parkland, 288 miles of trails, and 382 parks. The Urban Forestry team is responsible for the maintenance of trees across this system. A 2016 Gap Analysis estimated there were 288,761 trees in developed areas of parkland, but with recent acquisitions and developments, this number is now estimated to be around 450,000. A comprehensive tree inventory is needed to enhance management capabilities for public safety, tree health, and climate resilience. This project aligns with City Council Resolution No. 20240418-051, which emphasizes the need for data on public trees.

Work Details

The contractor will conduct a GIS-based inventory of trees on developed parkland owned by the City of Austin. The inventory will focus on the condition, species, location, and size of trees. Data collection methods may include LIDAR technology and AI-assisted technologies. Specific tasks include: 1. Collecting attribute data for all trees 4 inches DBH or larger in developed parkland. 2. Collecting data for trees in designated buffer zones adjacent to developed areas. 3. Providing geolocation data with GPS coordinates accurate to within one meter. 4. Delivering data in ESRI File Geodatabase format with unique tree identifiers and botanical names with a minimum accuracy of 95%. 5. Informing APR Urban Forestry of any imminent safety concerns discovered during data collection.

Period of Performance

The contract will commence on the date executed by the City and will remain effective until all deliverables are completed or the City terminates the contract.

Place of Performance

The work will be performed in various developed parklands across the City of Austin.

Bidder Requirements

Contractors must have completed at least three municipal tree inventory projects similar in scope to this project and provide references for key personnel from each project. They must demonstrate a minimum of five years’ experience with proposed data collection technologies and employ ISA Certified Arborists for quality control.