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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)
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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!