City of West Lafayette investing in online tree tracking system to help improve environment

City of West Lafayette investing in an online tree tracking system to help improve the environment

Weslafayette is working toward a greener future.

The department of development is rolling out a new program that will help keep track of tree health.

News 18's micah upshaw is live in west lafayette to tell us why this is crucial at a time like now.

Micah?

While trees help beautify neighborhoods -- it's the environmental features that west lafayette leaders really want to expand on.

This program is crucial now because it's helping lay the foundation for a healthier future.

B: it's crucial for us to maintain as well as be great stewards of our workforces, which are our street trees.

M: that's why the city of west lafayette is investing in a new online program called tree plotter.

It works to keep track of tree maintenance, inventory, and help answer the tree questions they often get from community members.

B: the program is great for every time we get a phone call, i can immediately look up all the work that's done, the last time the tree was inspected, the condition that the tree is in.

M: bryce patz who oversees neighborhood vitality says this program is setting the groundwork for an even bigger initiative.

Once they can easily monitor tree health, then they can move to even bigger projects that improve the environment as a whole.

B: this software is huge.

When we're talking about climate change and what we are doing as a city with out carbon footprint, this program will allow us to know what exactly our trees are doing in real time.

M: patz says the goal of all this is to be able to track and plant the right trees, which will bring a benefit the entire community will notice.

B: not only does it provide shade for walk able streets, property values go up with tree canopies but they provide tremendous environmental benefits including the storm water and carbon sequestration.

M: patz says there's no better time than now to get started.

B: we're able to break down that data to know what we need to plant today and what's going to survive in the future.

The tracking program is set to launch in february.

Patz says they are currently looking at ways to make it an interactive site for the community to access as well.

I am reporting in west lafayette, micah upshaw.

News 18.

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