Spencer Podsiadlo

Needs Assessment
Introduction:
The Lancaster Highway Department has expressed interest in conducting a Needs Assessment.
The objective of this is do conduct a tree survey in order to obtain a grant from New York State
to do tree trimming. This will include mapping every tree in the Town of Lancaster along with
documenting the species, condition, immediate action needed for each tree and more. This
information will then we handed over to Wendel which is the company that handles all of the
Highway Departments GIS needs.
The following organizations will participate in the Needs Assessment:

The State University at of New York, Buffalo

Wendel
Town of Lancaster Highway Department
Town of Lancaster Recreation Department

Methodology
The information will be collected by hand on the ground for every tree in the Town of Lancaster.
A handheld GPS unit will be used to collect all relevant information for the completion of this
tree survey. The data collection will begin in approximately in the spring of 2016.
There is currently no application or methods being used in order to collect tree information in the
Town of Lancaster.

GIS Application
Web based GIS user (staff)
Objective:
To give the Town access to department specific data that will be used to conduct projects related
to the Town of Lancaster Highway Departments duties. The immediate project the department
wishes to complete is a tree survey in order to apply for a grant from the state.
Users:
Department of Highways

Application Summary:
The web based application will allow a user to map the location of trees using GPS coordinates
or by manually imputing coordinates. The following functions are required as well as the
following categories that will need to be input by the user regarding information inputs:
Display
Yes

Edit
No

Map Output
Yes

Identification Number
Species
Height
Diameter at breast height
Canopy Width
Width of side walk

Navigate
Yes

Query
Yes

Spatial Analysis
Yes

Thematic Mapping
Yes

Maintenance
Priority Task
Wire Obstruction
Condition
Comments
Photo

Map Projection
The map projection for this application is the WGS 1984 Web Mercator (auxiliary sphere).

Data Maintenance:
The application will only be accessible to only a few people within the department and all points
will be checked to insure that the information is accurate.

Appendix:
Master Data List
Satellite Imagery
Tree Location Layer
Geodatabase

Type
Point

Feature class name

Trees

Alias
Trees located in the Town of Lancaster.

Nulls

Default

Domain name
or
subtype field (S)
or (D)
Domain

Field name

Field type

Alias

(Y/N)

value

ID

Identification Number

No

Species

Long
Integer
Text

Tree Species

No

Domain

Height

Text

Tree Height

No

Hedge
Maple
10-20ft

DBH

Short
Integer
Text

Diameter at breast
height
Canopy Width

No

20

Domain

No

5-10ft

Domain

Width of side
walk
Maintenance

Text

Width of side walk

No

<4ft

Domain

Text

Maintenance

No

Domain

Priority Task

Text

Priority Task

No

Prunin
g
None

Wire Obstruction

Text

Wire Obstruction

No

No

Domain

Condition

Text

Condition

No

Comments

Text

Comments

No

Domain

Photo

Text

Photo

No

Domain

Canopy Width

Domain

Domain

Description

Field type

Tree identification number

Long Integer

Domain
type
Range

Tree species name

Text

Coded

Height of the tree

Text

Coded

Diameter at breast height

Short Integer

Range

Width of the tree canopy

Text

Coded

Width of side walk near the

tree
What is needed to maintain
tree
Immidate action needed

Text

Coded

Text

Coded

Text

Coded

Tree is obstructing power lines

or not
Health of tree

Text

Coded

Text

Coded

Comments

Text

Coded

Photo of the tree

Text

Coded

Master List of Applications:

Web based GIS user (staff)

Coded values
Code
(Min)
1

/ Range
Desc
(Max)
30000

75