Plymouth, Minnesota, is taking a thoughtful, modern approach to urban tree care by using artificial intelligence to monitor the health of its tree canopy. In a bid to keep the city’s green spaces thriving, Conor Nolan of Greehill Smart Tree Inventories has set up a system that collects detailed information about each tree as he drives along the streets.
Mounted on a specially equipped vehicle, advanced scanners capture crucial data while the car moves at a safe, deliberate pace of under 23 miles per hour. As the vehicle navigates Plymouth’s streets this August, it will gather insights on roughly 40,000 trees across public areas, helping city officials spot early signs of stress such as wilting leaves. City forester Paul Buck explains that addressing these issues early helps reduce storm damage and avoid costly tree failures, making it a smart, proactive strategy.
Funded largely through fees imposed on developers who impact local trees during construction, the initiative was green-lit by the city council last November. Plymouth joins other cities, including Dallas, Las Vegas, and Burbank, in using ground-based scanning technology and machine learning to quickly and objectively assess tree health—a process that used to take months if done manually. With a follow-up scan planned in two years, officials expect to streamline maintenance even further during the four-year contract.
