Got a weird request to add a 3D model of a specific oak tree to a site plan last week

The client wanted a 'landmark' for a new park in Austin, so I tried using a free SketchUp model from a forestry site instead of building it from scratch. It cut my modeling time down from like 6 hours to 45 minutes and they loved the detail. Has anyone else found a good source for free, accurate plant or tree models for civil drawings?

3 comments

3 Comments

nora_barnes2mo ago

The city arborist in Portland has a public 3D library of local species. It's for urban planning. I downloaded a Douglas fir model last year that was survey-accurate for trunk spread. Saved me from guessing. Those municipal forestry departments sometimes have the best data because they map every tree. Check if Austin has something similar online.

faithb742mo agoMost Upvoted

Austin's tree map is actually pretty solid. I used it to check oak coverage in my neighborhood last fall. Their data on heritage trees is weirdly detailed.

wyatt_chen861mo agoMost Upvoted

Honestly @faithb74, you're totally right about that map. I got way too into it last spring looking at pecan trees. The detail is wild, like you can see which ones got trimmed by the city. Tbh it made me notice how many trees got removed for a utility project down my street. Nora's point about city data is spot on too. Austin's site has this layer for tree health that's just nuts. I spent an hour clicking on sick looking oaks to see the notes.