PARTNERS: USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area Forest Health Protection

SUMMARY: The Inventory Pest Detection (I-PED) Initiative aims to develop, disseminate, implement, and establish a state-of-the-art, long-term, national urban and community forest pest detection and reporting network linked to local urban forest inventory efforts. The I-PED tool is expected to become a vital component of the Forest Service’s i-Tree software suite of urban forest inventory and analysis tools that is being used in communities across the country.

A project planning and development team is working to move this effort forward. The team includes several USDA agencies, including Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Forest Service's Northern Research Station, Northeastern Area State Forestry, and Washington Office Private Forestry Urban and Community Forestry and Forest Health Protection Programs. Other team members represent the Society of Municipal Arborists, Davey Tree, and the University of Georgia Bugwood Network. The Society of Municipal Arborists has taken the lead in supporting beta testing of the I-PED desktop and field program.

STATUS: Ongoing

PROGRESS: Spring/Early Summer 2007 - Development of the pest identification PDA component, a proposed i-Tree field data collection tool was completed.
Summer/Fall 2007 - Initial field testing of the I-PED pest detection PDA utility was begun in four communities including Ithaca, NY, Dublin, OH, Chattanooga, TN, and Willmette, IL. This pilot implementation was initiated in cooperation with the Society of Municipal Arborists, and included input and contributions by all project partners. Additionally, the development of web-based supporting materials for the pilot implementation was completed. The field trials included classroom, outdoor and computer lab instruction. Also, a reporting network for the submission of field anomalies was established and tested.
Spring 2008 - In the first half of 2008, the project team continued the development and refinement of the PDA Pest Identification Utility, as well as worked to establish draft protocols related to the collection and archiving of field data. Additionally, the following tasks were completed: development of model web-based learning tools, including model online resource components; continued refinement of pest collection methodology; and convening of project team for regular web-conferencing working sessions. 
Summer/Fall 2008 - During the second half of 2008, the project team will be working on several components of the analysis and reporting mechanisms related to the field data collection aspects of the project, as well as reviewing the instructional outreach and training components of the initiative. The following tasks will be completed during this phase of the project: evaluation of 2007 pilot trials, including review of training and support mechanisms; Pest Identification PDA utility refinement; revision of training manual, to include i-Tree integration and functionality; development of i-Tree diagnostic support for pest components; I-PED site integrated within i-Tree and database integration; and I-PED pest detection portability specification development.

LINKS: USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area Forest Health Protection

CONTACT: Daniel Twardus, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, dtwardus@fs.fed.us or (304) 285-1545