Frequently Asked Questions

TreeMapper is a comprehensive tree planting and forest restoration tracking platform. It consists of a mobile app for field data collection and a web dashboard for project management, analytics, and reporting. TreeMapper helps organizations document planting activities, monitor tree growth, and report on restoration progress.

Yes, TreeMapper is free for restoration projects. The mobile app can be downloaded from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android), and the web dashboard is accessible at no cost. TreeMapper is developed by Plant-for-the-Planet to support global reforestation efforts.

The TreeMapper mobile app works on iOS devices (iPhone and iPad) and Android devices. The web dashboard works on any modern web browser including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge on desktop and laptop computers.

Yes! TreeMapper is designed for field use where internet connectivity may be limited. You can create interventions, take measurements, and capture photos completely offline. All data is stored locally on your device and automatically syncs to the server when you regain internet connectivity. You can also download offline maps for navigation in remote areas.

GPS accuracy depends on your device and environmental conditions. TreeMapper displays a GPS accuracy indicator so you know the precision of your location data. For best results, wait for the accuracy to show under 10 meters before marking locations. Standing in open areas with clear sky visibility improves accuracy.

Synced interventions are safely stored on the server and won't be lost. However, any unsynced interventions stored only on your device will be permanently deleted. Always sync your data before uninstalling the app or switching devices to ensure nothing is lost.

There's no practical limit to offline interventions. You can create hundreds of interventions offline, limited only by your device storage (primarily due to photos). Each intervention without photos uses only about 1KB of data. Photos are the main storage consideration.

Data syncs automatically when your device has an internet connection. You can also manually trigger a sync from the interventions list. The app shows sync status for each intervention so you know which ones have been uploaded and which are pending.

Yes, you can edit most fields like notes, species, and measurements after syncing. However, changing the location or intervention type may require administrator approval depending on your project settings. Edits are tracked for audit purposes.

From the mobile app, you can export individual interventions as GeoJSON files for use in GIS software like ArcGIS. From the web dashboard, you can export all your data in Excel format, with options to filter by date range. Species data and team data can also be exported from their respective sections. See Data Export for more details.

A project is the overall restoration initiative that contains all related activities, team members, and analytics. A site is a specific geographic area (polygon) within a project where planting and other activities take place. One project can have many sites. See Projects vs Sites for more details.

You can create site boundaries in three ways: (1) Draw a polygon directly on the map in the web dashboard, (2) Upload a GeoJSON file if you have existing GIS data, or (3) Use the mobile app's GPS tracking to walk the perimeter and trace the boundary. The area is calculated automatically from the boundary.

TreeMapper has four roles: Owner (full control including deletion), Admin (manage team, sites, and settings), Contributor (create and edit interventions), and Observer (read-only access). Each role has specific permissions suited to different team member responsibilities.

From the web dashboard, go to Team Management and click Invite. Enter the person's email address, select their role, and send the invitation. They'll receive an email with a link to join your project. You can also bulk invite multiple people using a CSV file.

TreeMapper includes over 60,000 species from the Plant-for-the-Planet database, covering the most commonly planted species worldwide. The species list is downloaded during app installation and available offline. If you need a species that's not in the database, you can request it to be added.

You can record an "unknown species" during field work. Later, from the web dashboard, you can review unknown species and assign them to the correct scientific species once identified. This maintains data integrity while allowing field work to continue without delays.

Use the remeasurement feature to record updated measurements for trees. Select the tree, choose "Measure," and enter new height and diameter values with a photo. All measurements are stored as a timeline history. You can also set up remeasurement reminders and see trees due for remeasurement highlighted in red on the map. See Remeasurement for details.

Monitoring plots are defined areas (circular or rectangular) used for systematic, long-term data collection. They can be intervention plots (in restored areas) or control plots (for comparison). Plots help you track individual plants, measure growth, and assess restoration success over time.