New tree hazard dashboard a useful tool during storm season

One positive outcome of the ice storm in January 2024 is a new tree hazard dashboard that will be live and available to the public when the next significant storm hits Eugene.

Using Geographic Information System software that multiple Public Works teams use in their work, members of the Parks and Open Space division created this helpful tool so the public can look at tree damage in their neighborhood or on their route to work or school. If a street has been scouted for damage by staff and a tree has been documented as damaged and impacting the right of way, a resident can learn about this before even leaving the house, allowing them to depart early or plan another route to avoid the area.

"City staff know that Eugene residents are as passionate about City trees and a speedy recovery after storm events as we are, so we thought this would be a great way for people to be able to see what's going on with potentially damaged trees around their homes," said Todd Johnson of POS. "Having a robust GIS inventory is important to helping us maintain a healthy urban forest and recover from storm events. We use all kinds of maps like this every day, and we thought it would be fairly easy to make this part available during a storm to the public."

The dashboard has multiple features, including a tally of how many tree-related work orders City crews have established, either from City scouts out in the field or from reports from residents, as well as how many of those work orders have been completed. During the 2024 ice storm, the number of work orders was in the thousands for several months. The data collected played a critical role when seeking FEMA reimbursement. One FEMA auditor said that this should be a "model practice" for other local governments.

Residents can also use the dashboard to see whether a tree hazard near them has already been reported to the City, and therefore they don't need to call it in, or whether they should notify Public Works. An additional layer on the GIS map will show whether a City park is open or closed, as parks often have to be closed for safety reasons in the wake of destructive ice storms.

"Even just looking at the wealth of information about street trees is so interesting," said Marion Suitor Barnes, public affairs manager for Public Works. "You can find the species, height, size, and a bunch of other facts about individual trees using the map. It's so cool if you love trees like so many Eugenians do."

The dashboard will go live during the next major storm in Eugene if tree damage occurs. A notification will go out to the public on social media, telling them it is available. Watch our Facebook/Instragram feeds for that information. In the meantime, enjoy exploring your urban forest with this City of Eugene Urban Forest - Public web application.

For additional information on the City's use of GIS during the 2024 ice storm, take a look at this featured article in Esri News for State and Local Government.