Middlebury College tree import
The Middlebury College arborist maintains a GIS database of campus trees with a wealth of data including species, diameter, height, spread, among other information. A public view of this data is available at: https://sites.middlebury.edu/middland/campus-tree-map/
Goals
Import individual tree nodes on the Middlebury College campus from the College's tree database.
Schedule
- Discovery and preparation: March/April 2026
- Data usage grant received: March 24th, 2026 from the college Arborist, Tim Parsons
- Import: April 2026
Import Data
Background
The Middlebury College arborist maintains a GIS database of campus trees with a wealth of data including species, diameter, height, spread, among other information. A public view of this data is available at: https://sites.middlebury.edu/middland/campus-tree-map/
- Data source site:
- Data license: No special restrictions or limitations on using the item's content have been provided.
- Type of license (if applicable): n/a
- Link to permission (if required): Permission to import into Open Street Map under the ODBL granted to Adam Franco by Tim Parsons during conversation on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 -- while standing under the Red Oak (object ID 245) in front of Old Chapel.
- OSM attribution (if required): n/a
- ODbL Compliance verified: yes
OSM Data Files
Provide a link to the data files you have prepared for import.
To do
Import Type
This will begin as a single import with data converted from the original database to OSM format by a script, then conflated in JOSM using the conflation plugin and manual review.
The intention is that this import will be refreshed from the source data periodically (hopefully annually) by re-running the same conversion script and re-conflating in JOSM.
Data Preparation
Data Reduction & Simplification
The source Feature Layer will be exported as GEOJSON, then converted into OSM XML via a script. To do
Tagging Plans
Below is a mapping of source fields to OSM fields:
| Source field | OSM tag | Value example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| natural | tree | static value | |
| GenusLatinGenus + + PlantsSpecies | species | Gleditsia triacanthos | |
| PlantsCommonName | species:en | Skyline Honeylocust | |
| GenusLatinGenus | genus | Gleditsia | |
| LatinName | taxon | Gleditsia triacanthos 'Skycole' | |
| PlantsCommonName | taxon:en | Skyline Honeylocust | |
| GenusFamily | taxon:family | Fabaceae | Data in source, but tag not documented in OSM Wiki |
| GenusLatinGenus | taxon:genus | Gleditsia | |
| PlantsCultivar | taxon:cultivar | Skycole | |
| species:wikidata | Q157650 | Look up value in Tag:natural=tree/List of Species based on GenusLatinGenus + " " + PlantsSpecies | |
| leaf_cycle | deciduous | Look up value in Tag:natural=tree/List of Species based on GenusLatinGenus + " " + PlantsSpecies | |
| leaf_type | broadleaved | Look up value in Tag:natural=tree/List of Species based on GenusLatinGenus + " " + PlantsSpecies | |
DBH + "
|
diameter | 17.2" | |
Spread + '
|
diameter_crown | 30' | |
Height + '
|
height | 48' | |
| MemorialTitle (exists) | denotation | memorial | Only when MemorialTitle exists in the source |
| MemorialTitle (exists) | memorial | tree | Only when MemorialTitle exists in the source |
| MemorialTitle | subject | Scott D. Sandblom '82 | Only when MemorialTitle exists in the source |
| MemorialText | inscription | European Beech Fagus sylvatica Scott Danforth Sandbloom '82 1960-1995 One of his greatest joys was building sand castles, wiith scores of giggling kids climbing on his back,helping, hampering,reveling in his attention. | Only when MemorialText exists in the source |
Changeset Tags
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| comment | Import trees from Middlebury College Tree Map |
| import | yes |
| source | Middlebury College Tree Map |
| source:url | https://middlebury.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=8549539c40834bb8a08326c7a87b1696 |
| source:date | age of dataset at time of import, if known. |
| import:page | link to this wiki page |
Data Transformation
See Tagging Plans above. Further details when preparation script is written. To do
Data Transformation Results
To do
Data Merge Workflow
Team Approach
This import will be performed solo by Adam Franco, using the Adam Franco-Import account.
Workflow
To do
Detail the steps you'll take during the actual import.
Information to include:
- Step by step instructions
- Changeset size policy
- Revert plans
Conflation
Will conflate using the JOSM Conflation plugin with existing data filtered to just natural=tree, with manual review of any existing matches. Very few trees are presently mapped on the campus, so conflicts should be minimal.
QA
To do Add your QA plan here.
Discussion
The post to the community forum was sent on 2026-03-24 and can be found here