The Task
The project aimed to create a tool for specialists working in the field of urban tree management. These professionals usually do fieldwork most part of the day, and they enter gathered data on the go.
Inspiration + Process
The Field Collector is part of a larger project of greeHill. This project combines immersive data with cutting-edge tools to transform urban forest management and green urban planning. Their solution surveys a city's entire urban forest and supplies the city with more information in less time and at lower costs than existing methods.
​
The Field Collector is an essential tool for tree specialists to gather information about urban forestry and digitize these findings. After talking to our users and watching them how they work outside, we decided to create a very easy-to-use application with large buttons and tablet compatibility. Later we tested our design to make sure it's easy enough to use with clumsy fingers on the go.
Finished Designs
The finished user interface is simplified to a map and 4 different types of tree icons showing the location and state of the already uploaded tree. A large plus button lets the user enter data of a new tree. The process is simple, there are 4 steps of entering specifics about the tree:
-
Location
-
Dimensions
-
Conditions
-
Protection
​
All fields are optional, and the specialists can update the data or cancel the process on each screen whenever they want it. Colors indicate when a step of the process is completed: completed (green), yellow (partially completed), red (empty).
Conclusion
This was a really interesting project for me. I realized that identifying trees and determining their exact structure and placement in a dynamic urban environment is a complex task. It's thrilling that I had the chance to be part of a design of a tool that helps tree specialists complete their work easier and make our cities greener and healthier.