Technology Team - The USU Tree Browser;
Lyle Holmgren, Mike Kuhns, Scott McAllister, Robert Holloway, Annie Jensen
As a result of a County Extension agent’s vision and computer knowledge and Extension Specialist’s subject matter expertise, Utah State University Extension is proud to be the host for The USU Tree Browser, a recently released free online treebrowser website.
The Website was produced by USU Extension forestry specialist Mike Kuhns and Box Elder County Extension agriculture/4-H youth agent Lyle Holmgren, with programming done by Scott McAllister and Robert Holloway and graphic design by Annie Jensen of USU. Partial funding was provided by U.S. Forest Service State and Private Forestry.
The Tree Browser started in a non-web format in 2002 after Lyle Holmgen had the idea to program the tree characteristic information from Mike Kuhn’s Tree Selection Guide for Utah into an interactive computer program. Together, they produced the program on a CD that people would download to their computer. The first version included 216 native and introduced trees growing in Utah and the Intermountain West with 516 full color photographs.
Users were able to browse through the complete list of trees or narrow their choices by selecting among 21 general growth-related, cultural, and ornamental characteristics including whether the tree was native or introduced. It also included fact sheets. It was updated in 2005, Finally other software became available and some grant money was obtained to take the CD-based Tree Browser and move it onto the web in 2007-2008. Mike worked with the programmers and added new species information and photos and Lyle reviewed the developing program for practicality, operability, and appearance. The web-based and DVD programs now contain 241 trees and 1,075 full color photographs. For each species there is a fact sheet, usually including descriptions of the leaves, twigs, buds, flowers, fruit, bark, wood, general comments about the tree's native habitat, and a description of its uses in cultivated landscapes, including its USDA Plant Hardiness Zone designation. It is also designed with an administrative web portal which allows them to add or modify tree species, photos, or text at any time.
Due to the vision and determination of these Extension professionals working together, USU Extension is keeping pace with the internet world and providing valuable educational information to the citizens of Utah and beyond. Epsilon Sigma Phi is proud to recognize fine teamwork in action by awarding Mike Kuhns , Lyle Holmgren and team the Epsilon Sigma Phi Team Award.