Feedback required please!

[martwizz]

I am in the final year of my FDSc in arb, and am currently in the process of completing a "specialist project" module.

 

For my project, I have decided to develop a database of tree information, to gather all of the information available on each tree species, particularly the hard-to-find stuff, in one place.

 

For more background information, have a quick scan through this thread, which features some early samples and ideas: http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/59301-new-product-idea-book-feedback-please.html

 

Today I present to you, the first working web-page sample, presenting a large quantity of information on Sorbus torminalis, commonly known as the Wild Service tree. I chose this species as it is an important native species to the UK, but is not necessarily well known by professionals in the industry.

 

Tree Wiki

 

If you could have a look at this page, and provide me with some feedback, that would be extremely useful for the development of this new tool. Comments on the layout, distribution of categories, format of information and so on would be very useful to me. Please keep in mind that the information is not yet properly referenced, and images have not been properly inserted/enabled, as this is a feature still in development. This is just a prototype, and a long way from the finished product! Any alterations or additions to the content of the page are also welcome.

 

I have designed this tool to help everybody in our industry, as well as related industries; even curious homeowners. Some information is very difficult to find, and the ultimate aim is to make a huge amount of species-specific information available to everybody; on pcs, laptops, tablets and smart phones. Users will also be able to add and edit information, providing that information is supported with linked referencing materials.

 

Thank you for your help, I look forward to hearing back from you all soon!

[Eddy_t]

Needs pictures

 

 

Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

[martwizz]

Please note that pictures are not yet added, feedback required for the existing content

 

Please keep in mind that the information is not yet properly referenced, and images have not been properly inserted/enabled, as this is a feature still in development.

[Marc Lewis]

As well as record heights, dbh etc, you could perhaps have height dbh that they usually grow to. Are the characteristics of young trees different to mature trees?

[WeeDee]

Are you including the common name along with the scientific one? (Maybe I've just missed it). SORRY! I have missed it!

 

Are you including any kind of key at the start of the database.

 

Dee

Edited December 15, 2013 by WeeDee
Being stupid, again.

[woodyguy]

This is really very good. I'm not an arborist but have been replanting a wood for the past year and researching the 100+ species I've planted. This would have been very valuable as I've had to read up myself and do the work you're doing.

Few random thoughts.

Include pictures of younger immature trees (good to show clients).

Perhaps include a bit of info on use of trees eg Sorbus T. was used to flavour beer before hops were used hence the common use of The Chequers as a pub name.

Make sure the info is correct. Sorbus t. grows well in shade under oaks trees.

Would definitely use it once complete.

woodyguy is online now Report Post

[martwizz]

Thanks all for the feedback so far. If anybody else has observations or ideas to throw in, that would be really great!

[se7enthdevil]

purely because i'm a woodturner it might be nice to have a picture of the timber too, might be able to help you out here. the wood database is a website in built by Eric Meyer in the states (The Wood Database | Hardwood and Softwood Lumber Identification) and i'v helped him out with lots of samples that he has pictures for (see about the project page contributors bit) and i'm sure he will let you use his scans of the wood and i'll help supply any pics of the wood in use if you wish.

[daltontrees]

This would be a fabulous resource.

 

With no regard to how much work would be required to gather the info, I would ideally like to see wood type (ring or diffuse porous), frost hardiness (in zones), sexuality (dioecious/monoecious), deciduous/semi-evergreen/evergreen (at the very top of the page), family/genus and species (at the top again).

 

Then I can chuck out all my books and just use Wiki.

[daltontrees]

I just noticed that you have symbols for subsidence potential. It's not clear what these amount to but it has flagged up that another useful snippet of information for each species would be its NHBC water demand category.