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Pilot Report. Smart Tree Inventory (LiDAR + AI)

What 21,000+ digitally measured trees can teach your city about safer, smarter tree management


This pilot study—run with Terra Nostra, four Dutch municipalities, and a leading tree nursery—shows how LiDAR + AI can deliver an accurate, repeatable tree dataset and turn it into actionable insights for risk prioritization, maintenance planning, and ecosystem-service reporting.


Conducted with: Terra Nostra Project Group + municipalities of Ede, Utrecht, Land van Cuijk, Veenendaal + Ebben Tree Nursery.


  • Measure at scale: 21,066 trees scanned and analyzed across multiple real municipal environments.

  • Accuracy you can trust: digital measurements closely match (and can outperform) field measurements for key dimensions.

  • Work smarter: use a digital pre-selection to focus field inspections where they matter most.



Why this report matters for municipal green asset teams

1) How Smart Tree Inventory works (in the real world)

LiDAR + high-resolution imagery creates a 3D digital twin for each tree and makes the dataset accessible for download and ongoing use.


2) What the pilot proved—where it’s strong today

  • Strong accuracy for tree dimensions and positioning, with clear comparison to field measurements.

  • Ecosystem services calculated using i-Tree Eco, available at both area and tree level.


3) What still needs improvement (so you can plan responsibly)

The pilot also flags which parameters need further development (e.g., some indicators related to condition/species/lean), so cities can adopt the technology with clear expectations.


4) Practical applications for cities. How scan-based inventory supports:

  • faster maintenance planning and prioritization

  • targeted inspections (digital pre-check → fewer unnecessary site visits)

  • policy and budget conversations using quantified benefits

  • future-ready management through repeat scanning and trend tracking



What’s in the PDF

  • 33-page report with visuals, tables, and findings from the multi-partner pilot

  • Results across 10 research questions, including stability/lean signals, crown dieback, LAI, crown volume, remote inspection potential, and measurement accuracy

  • Analysis + conclusions on usability for municipal workflows and what’s coming next



Who this report is for

  • Municipal green asset managers / heads of urban forestry

  • City arborists & tree inspectors

  • Operations leads who plan budgets, crews, and contractors

  • GIS and sustainability teams supporting canopy, equity, and ecosystem reporting



Ready to see the findings?

Fill the form below to download the Smart Tree Inventory Pilot Report:



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