ArborShadow - An Overview
ArborShadow was originally created by Chris Skellern during 2004. It is a computer program which calculates and plots tree shadows on to a site plan image. It runs on a PC using the Windows based operating system. ArborShadow is intended for use by professional arboriculturists working within the planning industry.
Arboricultural Consultant
The relevance of tree shadows in relation to new development is important to ensure that proposed recreational areas such as gardens and windows (on building elevations) will not be excessively shaded by adjacent trees. If these areas do become excessively shaded, the tree may become a target for pruning or even removal. By understanding the position and motion of tree shadows at an early stage in the planning process, such problems can be avoided (by, for example, adjusting the proposed site layout). It is the job of the contracting arboriculturist to keep his/her client informed of these issues and to supply them with data from which they can modify their plans. The assessment of a trees shading capability should be included within an Arboricultural Implication Study (AIS) which considers the relationship between existing trees and a proposed development.
Tree Officer
Tree officers working for Local Authorities are obliged to ensure that important trees are retained where possible in relation to new development. They must consider a number of factors, including the issue of sunlight. Councils receive a large number of requests to prune or remove protected trees due to sunlight interference. They can of course refuse the requests, but this may be overturned on appeal to the Secretary of State, who may, for example, judge that the light loss is unreasonable and the tree should be removed. To avoid such a set of circumstances arising, local authorities must ensure at an early planning stage that the issue of light interruption, both in the present and in the future has been considered. They should demand information from the developers demonstrating that a reasonable level of sunlight will be available to gardens, recreational areas, windows etc.
ArborShadow
ArborShadow is a tool which calculates and plots tree shadows onto a bitmap plan. It does not offer any kind of appraisal or conclusion to the issue of sunlight in the proposed site. It simply assists the arboriculturist in his/her assessment. It has many limitations and you may indeed consider it to have little value in your own work. You may also not agree with the calculation and plotting method employed. For these reasons, I recommend you read all of the information pages on this site and try out the demonstration program before considering purchase.
Main Features of the Program
Calculation of tree shadows for a tree using the trees height, crown spread, crown shape and position.
Display the shadow data graphically on the screen as 2D (as if you were looking down vertically over the tree).
Zoom and scroll around the plan.
Display a shadow for any time, day or month.
Display a 'trace shadow' for a whole specified day (the area 'touched' by the transit of the trees shadow).
Insert a site plan extract as a bitmap and use this as a background (so the shadows can be overlaid).
Define reference areas & points and 'analyse' a trees shadow in relation to these.
Modify the tree height & crown spread by a fixed amount or percentage to assess future growth and changes in shadow size.
Save or print the graphical images for use within reports.
Arboricultural Consultant
The relevance of tree shadows in relation to new development is important to ensure that proposed recreational areas such as gardens and windows (on building elevations) will not be excessively shaded by adjacent trees. If these areas do become excessively shaded, the tree may become a target for pruning or even removal. By understanding the position and motion of tree shadows at an early stage in the planning process, such problems can be avoided (by, for example, adjusting the proposed site layout). It is the job of the contracting arboriculturist to keep his/her client informed of these issues and to supply them with data from which they can modify their plans. The assessment of a trees shading capability should be included within an Arboricultural Implication Study (AIS) which considers the relationship between existing trees and a proposed development.
Tree Officer
Tree officers working for Local Authorities are obliged to ensure that important trees are retained where possible in relation to new development. They must consider a number of factors, including the issue of sunlight. Councils receive a large number of requests to prune or remove protected trees due to sunlight interference. They can of course refuse the requests, but this may be overturned on appeal to the Secretary of State, who may, for example, judge that the light loss is unreasonable and the tree should be removed. To avoid such a set of circumstances arising, local authorities must ensure at an early planning stage that the issue of light interruption, both in the present and in the future has been considered. They should demand information from the developers demonstrating that a reasonable level of sunlight will be available to gardens, recreational areas, windows etc.
ArborShadow
ArborShadow is a tool which calculates and plots tree shadows onto a bitmap plan. It does not offer any kind of appraisal or conclusion to the issue of sunlight in the proposed site. It simply assists the arboriculturist in his/her assessment. It has many limitations and you may indeed consider it to have little value in your own work. You may also not agree with the calculation and plotting method employed. For these reasons, I recommend you read all of the information pages on this site and try out the demonstration program before considering purchase.
Main Features of the Program
Calculation of tree shadows for a tree using the trees height, crown spread, crown shape and position.
Display the shadow data graphically on the screen as 2D (as if you were looking down vertically over the tree).
Zoom and scroll around the plan.
Display a shadow for any time, day or month.
Display a 'trace shadow' for a whole specified day (the area 'touched' by the transit of the trees shadow).
Insert a site plan extract as a bitmap and use this as a background (so the shadows can be overlaid).
Define reference areas & points and 'analyse' a trees shadow in relation to these.
Modify the tree height & crown spread by a fixed amount or percentage to assess future growth and changes in shadow size.
Save or print the graphical images for use within reports.
