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Course Details
Course Name: Municipal Tree Inventory Course
Course Code: AL0818CA25
Date of Most Recent Offering: May 22 & 23, 2025
Course Overview
Get a grip on your shade trees! A proper inventory is essential in order to make smart decisions regarding shade tree management – and it can also allow access to government grants. In this two-day class, instructors Ted Szczawinski and Ray Slaman will teach you the hands-on skills you need in field data collection, GPS/GIS applications, and data analysis.
PLEASE NOTE: For this class to be effective, participants will need either an IOS (phone or tablet) or Android (phone or tablet) device and either an Apple Store or Google Play account to download applications for use in the field activities.
Field Activities to include:
- Location: GPS coordinates and street address.
- Species: Common and scientific names.
- Size: Diameter at Breast Height (DBH), height, and canopy spread.
- Health: Overall condition, presence of diseases or pests, and signs of decay.
- Condition: Assess tree health, vigor, and identifying potential hazards.
- Other Information: Historic or aesthetic value, planting date, and recommended maintenance.
Management tools and analysis activities to include:
- Data Collection: how to use mobile apps.
- GIS Integration: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used to map and visualize tree data.
- Data Analysis: Analyze the collected data in real-time to identify trends, assess the health and composition of the urban forest, and inform budgeting and management decisions.
- Reporting: Generate reports and maps to communicate findings to stakeholders and build support within the community.
Planning and Management:
- A tree inventory provides data which is the basis for municipalities to efficiently plan for and manage their urban forests, including prioritizing tree care, maintenance, and planting efforts.
- Resource Allocation: It provides real-time data that allows the allocation of resources to be effectively budgeted, specifically creating accurate budgets to determine infrastructure needs such as which trees need pruning, removal/stump grinding, or replanting.
- Liability and Risk Assessment: Inventories can help identify and quantify trees posing potential risks and demonstrate diligent management to reduce liability and claims.
- Environmental/Ecosystem Services: Tree inventories can help quantify the value of the urban forest’s asset monetization and ecosystem services, such as air pollution reduction, identifying overburdened communities, stormwater management, and energy savings.
- Grant Applications: A well-maintained inventory improves the probability of receiving grants allowing budgeting to include funding and assistance for urban forestry projects.
Who Should Attend?
This class is well-suited for anyone involved in shade tree management including:
- Arborists
- Consultants
- Department of Public Works Employees
- Estimators
- Licensed Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators (LTE/LTCO)
- Parks Workers
- Shade Tree Commission Chairmen
- Township Tree Inspectors
- Tree Service Owners
Meet Your Instructors
Ted Szczawinski, Licensed Tree Expert
New Jersey Licensed Tree Expert and professor of plant science and biology Ted Szczawinski will join the instructional team for this class, offering the practical science behind hazardous tree management in a manner that’s fun, interactive, and easy-to-understand!
Ray Slaman
NJ Licensed Tree Expert and 20-year municipal shade tree manager Ray Slaman joins Ted as part of the instructional team to present practical information on understanding the scope of tree management and the dynamics of a good tree inventory.
Continuing Education Credits
The most recent offering of Municipal Tree Inventory Course (11 contact hours) was approved for the following credits from professional organizations. We will reapply for similar credits the next time the course runs, but we cannot guarantee credit approval for future offerings.
New Jersey
NJ Certified Public Works Managers (CPWM): 3.0 Technical, 3.0 Management, 2.0 Government Contact Hours
NJ Licensed Tree Experts (LTE/LTCO): 11 CEUs
NJ Urban and Community Forestry (NJUCF): 11 CEUs
Meals
No breakfast will be provided. Lunch will be available for pre-registered attendees only.
NOTE: If you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, please alert us at least two (2) weeks in advance of the course start date so that we can make reasonable accommodations. We cannot guarantee accommodations for special requests made after that time.
COVID-19 Policies for Face-to-Face Classes
Pre-registration/Walk-Ins
Location Changes
Campus Parking Policy
Email Requirement
Cancellations and SubstitutionsAttention U.S. Veterans
This course is approved by the New Jersey State Approving Agency for Veterans Training for educational benefits through the GI Bill®. Learn more.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Program Questions? We’re Here to Help!
If you have any questions about Hazardous Tree Identification, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Program Coordinator: Joe Canzano
848-932-7317
joe.canzano@rutgers.edu
Administrative Assistant: Damiana Parada
848-932-7107
damiana.parada@rutgers.edu
For registration assistance, please contact our Registration Department at 848-932-9271, option 2 or email registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.
