A group of students from Hue University of Science has created a useful tool to support the management and planning of green trees in the Imperial City of Hue. The Geographic Information System (GIS) aids the Urban Environmental Company in effectively managing tree density, planning for pruning during the rainy season, and adding new plantings…
Along with ponds, walls, grassy areas, more than 100 exquisite architectural structures, and the green tree system within the Imperial City, these elements contribute to the unique beauty of the heritage site of Hue. However, the management of green trees in this area still faces many challenges.
In response to this situation, a group of students from Hue University of Science developed a GIS system to manage the green trees in the Imperial City, creating a valuable tool to assist in the management, planning of greenery, and preservation of the ecological environment. This project won second place in the National Student Scientific Research Award in 2004.
To establish a management map using GIS technology, the group collected maps and detailed diagrams of the Imperial City area, documented nearly 1,500 trees in the region, built a comprehensive map database of the area within the Imperial City, and four surrounding roads, and created a database of attributes…
Ms. Do Thi Viet Huong, a lecturer at the Geography and Geology Department of Hue University of Science, stated: “On the management map of the green tree system in the Imperial City, we represent the location of trees at specific positions, and if you want to know information about any tree at a certain location, you just need an Info tool in Microsoft software to display the information of that tree. By using this tool, you can click to find out the tree’s name, circumference, height, and the distance between consecutive trees…”.
The green tree system in Hue city is very diverse, with many species and a relatively dense density, playing an important role in urban development, such as providing shade, dust control, air conditioning, and creating a pleasant environment for tourism activities. However, in the past, many long-standing trees were cut down for infrastructure, and some newly planted trees were discarded for sidewalk construction due to inadequate planning concerning planting methods. Tree management was primarily conducted on paper, using manual methods, with no integration between data sources and their actual distribution. Utilizing GIS technology to manage green trees will address these limitations.
According to Dr. Ha Van Hanh, Head of the Geography Department at Hue University of Science: “The convenience of applying this model is that it helps the Urban Environmental Company effectively manage tree density, determining what is appropriate, planning for tree pruning during the rainy season, as well as supplemental planting. Notably, managers can oversee and direct in real-time when planning new roadways or expanding newly established sections“.
