Tree management system

Abstract

To improve the efficiency, visibility, and accuracy of creating management data. [Solution] A tree management system comprising at least a portable terminal that can be carried by an inspector and a server computer connected to a computer network capable of data communication, wherein the portable terminal includes an input means capable of inputting tree data relating to trees to be managed, and a wireless data communication means capable of performing data communication with the server computer via the computer network wirelessly, and transmits the tree data input by the input means to the server computer using the wireless data communication means, while also incorporating map information and photographic images, and the server computer stores the tree data transmitted from the portable terminal as tree management data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tree management system for managing trees.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a tree management system for managing trees, a diagnosis chart having an input section for each piece of information such as the type, tree height, trunk circumference, shape, image (photo) of the tree, and map indicating the position of the tree of each individual tree is displayed on a personal computer, each piece of information is manually input, a map indicating the position of the tree is handwritten, and then the handwritten map is captured by a scanner or the like and pasted into the map area, and a photo of the tree taken with a digital camera is captured by a personal computer and pasted into the photo area to create it (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the system of Patent Document 1, a diagnostician diagnoses the trees to be managed in advance, writes down and images the contents for each management item, and brings these pieces of information back to a personal computer installed in a management office or the like, and uses these notes and the imaged photos to create a diagnosis chart. Therefore, it takes a great deal of time and effort to create tree management data such as a diagnosis chart, and there is a problem that mistakes such as misidentifications and misunderstandings are likely to occur because the input, capturing, and pasting of images and maps are not performed at the location of the trees to be managed.

[0005] This invention addresses these problems and aims to provide a tree management system that can improve the efficiency and accuracy of creating management data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The tree management system according to claim 1 is A tree management system comprising at least a portable terminal that can be carried by an inspector and a server computer connected to a computer network capable of data communication, The aforementioned mobile terminal is An input means capable of inputting tree data related to trees under management, A wireless data communication means capable of performing data communication with the server computer via the aforementioned computer network using wireless communication, Equipped with, The tree data input by the input means is transmitted to the server computer using the wireless data communication means. The server computer stores the tree data transmitted from the mobile terminal as tree management data. It is characterized by the following. This feature allows inspectors to directly input tree data on-site while inspecting the trees, without taking notes or other documentation. This input data is then managed as tree management data on a server computer, thus increasing the efficiency of creating tree management data. Furthermore, the accuracy of the tree management data can be improved because the correctness of the input data can be verified on the spot.

[0007] The tree management system of claim 2 is the tree management system of claim 1, The input means includes location information acquisition means for acquiring location information that can identify the location of the mobile terminal, The mobile terminal transmits the location information acquired by the location information acquisition means to the server computer as tree data using the wireless data communication means. It is characterized by the following. This feature allows inspectors to easily transmit the precise location of the trees to a server computer as tree data by acquiring location information at the trees' locations, and the server computer can then manage this precise location information.

[0008] The tree management system of claim 3 is the tree management system of claim 1, The input means includes an imaging means capable of capturing an image of the tree to be managed, The mobile terminal transmits the tree image captured by the imaging means to the server computer as tree data using the wireless data communication means. It is characterized by the following. This feature allows inspectors to easily transmit images of the trees to a server computer as tree data by capturing images of the trees at their location, enabling accurate tree images to be managed on the server computer.

[0009] The tree management system of claim 4 is the tree management system of claim 2, The input means includes an imaging means capable of capturing images of trees to be managed, and the mobile terminal is capable of transmitting the tree images captured by the imaging means and the location information acquired by the location information acquisition means as tree data to the server computer via the wireless data communication means. It is characterized by the following. This feature allows the precise location and images of the trees being managed to be controlled by a server computer.

[0010] The tree management system of claim 5 is the tree management system of claim 4, The mobile terminal includes a priority control means that causes the acquisition of location information by the location information acquisition means to precede the capture of tree images by the imaging means. It is characterized by the following. This feature makes it possible to minimize the inaccuracy of location information caused by acquiring location information at a location far from the target tree in order to capture images of the tree.

[0011] The tree management system of claim 6 is the tree management system of claim 4, The position identification information acquisition means is capable of acquiring the position identification information when imaging is performed by the imaging means, A determination means capable of determining whether the location identified by the location identification information acquired by the location identification information acquisition means is within a specified range from the location of the tree to be managed, If the determination result of the determination means is that the position is not within the specified range, a notification means capable of outputting a notification corresponding to the determination result is provided. Equipped with It is characterized by the following. This feature allows the inspector to recognize that the location differs from the target tree's location through the output of a notification corresponding to the judgment result. Furthermore, when continuously imaging the tree's condition at regular intervals, the inspector can recognize the accuracy of the positional relationship with the target tree.

[0012] The tree management system of claim 7 is the tree management system of claim 1, The input means includes location information acquisition means for acquiring location information that can identify the current location of the mobile terminal, The mobile terminal is equipped with tree identification means capable of identifying trees within a predetermined range from its current location, The tree data of the trees identified by the aforementioned tree identification means can be displayed in a list on the mobile terminal. It is characterized by the following. This feature allows inspectors to easily identify trees within a specified range from their mobile devices, reducing the effort required to select trees for inspection and the time spent traveling to those trees.

[0013] The tree management system according to claim 8 is the tree management system according to claim 7, wherein it comprises a predetermined range changing means capable of changing the predetermined range based on the operation of the mobile terminal. It is characterized by this. According to this feature, since the inspector can change the predetermined range according to the range for tree management, the density of the trees, etc., the labor of selecting the trees to be inspected and the time required to move to the trees to be inspected can be further reduced.

[0014] The tree management system according to claim 9 is the tree management system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal can display the tree data of the trees to be managed in a list for a management facility having the trees to be managed, and can display a map showing the positions of each tree, and can switch between and display the list display and the map display. It is characterized by this. According to this feature, the situation of each tree existing in the management facility can be grasped visually and efficiently with high visibility by video.

[0015] The tree management system according to claim 10 is the tree management system according to claim 9, wherein it comprises an inspected determination means capable of determining whether or not the trees in the management facility have been inspected, the mobile terminal displays the trees determined to be uninspected in a first mode in at least one of the list display and the map display, while displaying the trees determined to be inspected in a second mode different from the first mode. It is characterized by this. According to this feature, the inspector can easily recognize whether the tree is displayed in the first mode or the second mode, and can efficiently inspect the tree.

[0016] The tree management system according to claim 11 is the tree management system according to claim 10, wherein The input means includes an operation reception means for receiving operations from the inspector. The mobile terminal, in at least one of the list display and the map display, accepts an operation regarding the trees displayed in the first embodiment and displays an inspection page that includes inspection items for uninspected trees. It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, the inspector can recognize the inspection items for uninspected trees simply by performing operations on the trees displayed in the first aspect, thus enabling tree inspections to be carried out without complicated operations.

[0017] The tree management system of claim 12 is the tree management system described in claim 1, The system further comprises a specific terminal, which is different from the aforementioned mobile terminal and is capable of connecting to the server computer, The aforementioned specific terminal can connect to the server computer and edit the tree management data. It is characterized by the following. This feature allows tree management data stored on a server computer to be edited from a specific terminal, thereby improving the usability of the tree management system.

[0018] Furthermore, the present invention may have only the inventive features described in the claims of the present invention, or it may have the inventive features described in the claims of the present invention along with other features not described therein. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the tree management system in the example. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the configuration of the server computer that constitutes the tree management system in the embodiment. [Figure 3] This figure shows a portable management terminal that constitutes the tree management system of the embodiment. [Figure 4] This figure shows the configuration of the management mobile terminal that constitutes the tree management system of the embodiment. [Figure 5] This figure shows the user data table and tree data table in the tree management system of the example. [Figure 6] This figure shows the tree record data table in the tree management system of the example. [Figure 7] This is a screen view of the management handheld terminal in the tree management system of the embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a screen view of the management handheld terminal in the tree management system of the embodiment. [Figure 9] This figure shows the data transmission and reception between the management mobile terminal and the server computer in the tree management system of the embodiment. [Figure 10] This figure shows the data transmission and reception between the management mobile terminal and the server computer in the tree management system of the embodiment. [Figure 11] This diagram illustrates the background color of each tree on the tree list page in the tree management system of the embodiment, the display color of the icon for each tree on the dedicated map page, and the text and colors used. [Figure 12] This is a screen view of the management handheld terminal used when a warning notification is issued in the tree management system of the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] The embodiments for implementing the tree management system of the present invention will be described below based on examples. [Examples]

[0021] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the tree management system in this embodiment. The tree management system consists of multiple management mobile terminals 200 (management mobile terminal A, management mobile terminal B, ...) and management PC terminals 300 deployed in each park (park A, park B, ...), which is an example of a facility to be managed, a tree management server computer 100, a map server computer 110, and a system administrator terminal 150, all located in a facility different from each park (for example, a data center).

[0022] Furthermore, there may be multiple management PC terminals 300 and system administrator terminals 150. Also, the tree management server computer 100 and the map server computer 110 may be located in different facilities (locations) or in the same data center. Moreover, the tree management server computer 100 and the map server computer 110 may be configured with a single server computer.

[0023] These management mobile terminals 200, management PC terminals 300, tree management server computer 100, map server computer 110, and system administrator terminal 150 are connected to each other via the Internet network N, which is an open computer network, enabling them to communicate data with one another.

[0024] The management mobile terminal 200 is a portable terminal that is carried by tree inspectors in each park and used to input various inspection items and take photographs of trees when inspecting them. These management mobile terminals 200 may be shared terminals used by multiple inspectors, or they may be dedicated terminals assigned specifically to each inspector.

[0025] The management PC terminal 300 corresponds to a specific terminal of the present invention and is a PC (personal computer) mainly installed in the management office of each park. It is mainly used for registering new trees in the park and editing (adding, deleting, modifying, etc.) tree data (tree data) managed on the server computer 100, and is a terminal that can be shared by multiple inspectors. These management PC terminals 300 may also be connected to a printer or other printing device for printing inspection results.

[0026] Furthermore, the management PC terminal 300 may also be a dedicated terminal assigned specifically to each inspector. In addition, the management PC terminal 300 is not essential to the tree management system of the present invention, and each park may use only the management mobile terminal 200 without installing the management PC terminal 300.

[0027] The tree management server computer 100 is a computer that stores data related to trees, such as various inspection items and photographs of trees, entered via the management mobile terminal 200 and the management PC terminal 300, and distributes this stored data to the management mobile terminal 200 and the management PC terminal 300. The map server computer 110 is a computer that stores map data, including map data of the park where the tree management system of this embodiment is installed, and associates it with location data on the map data. The map server computer 110 may be a dedicated server computer, or a server computer of a company that provides map data services may be used; in this embodiment, a server computer of a company that provides map data services is used.

[0028] The system administrator terminal 150 is a terminal used by the administrator of the management organization that operates and manages the tree management system of this embodiment, in particular for managing updates to inspection schedules, etc. While this embodiment illustrates a configuration in which each system administrator terminal 150 is individually provided, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and these system administrator terminals 150 may be shared with a specific management PC terminal 300.

[0029] In this embodiment, a configuration in which multiple management mobile terminals 200 are provided in each park is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and only one management mobile terminal 200 may be provided in each park.

[0030] Furthermore, although this embodiment illustrates a configuration in which only one tree management server computer 100 is provided, the present invention is not limited thereto. Depending on the amount of tree data to be managed by the tree management system of this embodiment, multiple tree management server computers 100 may be provided, or a cloud server computer that can be scaled up according to the processing volume and data volume may be used.

[0031] <Server computer for tree management> Figure 2 shows the hardware configuration of the tree management server computer 100 in this embodiment. The tree management server computer 100 is a standard server computer with relatively good processing power, and as shown in Figure 2, it has a processor (CPU) 101 connected to a data bus 108, memory (RAM) 102, storage 103 such as a hard disk, a communication interface (I / F) 104 that enables bidirectional communication via the TCP / IP protocol over the Internet, which is an open computer network, and an input / output interface (I / F) 105 to which input devices such as a keyboard can be connected.

[0032] In this embodiment, an input / output interface (I / F) 105 is provided to enable local operation. However, if remote operation is possible via the communication interface (I / F) 104, the input / output interface (I / F) 105 may be omitted.

[0033] Furthermore, storage 203 stores the user data table shown in Figure 5(A), the tree data table shown in Figure 5(B), and the tree medical record data table shown in Figure 6. Although not shown, it also stores data for the operating system (OS), as well as tree management programs to provide various functions related to tree management, and data for various pages such as inspection pages for the management mobile terminal 200 and inspection pages for PC terminals. In this embodiment, the tree management programs are written in a browser-based program because the management mobile terminal 200 uses a browser to access the tree management server computer 100, as will be described later. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and these tree management programs may be written in an appropriate language depending on the application used on the management mobile terminal 200.

[0034] The user data table shown in Figure 5(A) is a data table that stores the ID and password used to authenticate each inspector using the tree management system of this embodiment. The user data table stores the park name, park location information, park ID assigned to each park, administrator ID assigned to each inspector (administrator) using the management mobile terminal 200, viewer ID assigned to each viewer who can view the tree data managed by the tree management system of this embodiment, employee code assigned to each employee of each park, and passwords assigned to each user (inspector and viewer) using the tree management system of this embodiment, all associated with each other.

[0035] In this embodiment of the tree management system, inspectors who have been issued an administrator ID can not only view tree management data but also input and modify data by entering the administrator ID and being authenticated. On the other hand, if an inspector who has only been issued a viewer ID enters that viewer ID and is authenticated, they will not be able to input or modify data, and their use will be restricted to viewing only the tree management data.

[0036] The tree data table shown in Figure 5(B) is a data table for storing information about trees managed by the tree management system of this embodiment, for each park. The tree data table stores information for each park name, associating it with the number, species, trunk circumference, type, and location within the park (location within the park).

[0037] The tree record data table shown in Figure 6 is a data table for storing the management items of trees managed by the tree management system of this embodiment for each park. The tree record data table stores, for each park name, the number of each tree in the park, the tree species, the date of the first inspection, the name of the inspector, various shape dimensions (height (H), trunk circumference (C), canopy spread (W)), the location within the park and its position information, an inspected flag value indicating whether or not it has been inspected within a predetermined period, the date of the previous inspection, etc., all associated with each park name.

[0038] In this embodiment, the inspected flag value is "0" if it is stored, indicating that the tree has not been inspected, and "1" if it is stored, indicating that the tree has been inspected. By reading the inspected flag data, it is possible to easily determine whether or not each tree has been inspected.

[0039] <Management Mobile Terminal> Figure 3 shows the management mobile terminal 200 in the tree management system of this embodiment, and Figure 4 shows the configuration of the management mobile terminal 200. As shown in Figure 3, the management mobile terminal 200 is a smartphone or tablet device that is small enough to be held in one hand by a tree inspector in each park and can be operated with fingers.

[0040] As shown in Figure 4, the management mobile terminal 200 includes a processor (CPU) 202 connected to a data bus 220, memory (RAM) 201, storage 203 such as a hard disk, a microphone module 204 capable of collecting ambient sounds, a switch module 205 capable of receiving operations from switches physically provided on the housing of the management mobile terminal 200, a mobile communication module 206 for providing the wireless data communication function of a known mobile phone terminal, a battery module 207 for supplying power, a GPS module 209 for acquiring location information of the management mobile terminal 200, a display module 210 for displaying images and characters, a touch panel module 211 capable of receiving touch operations from the inspector's fingers, and a local communication module 212 for communicating using a local area network (LAN).

[0041] As described above, the management mobile terminal 200 in this embodiment can access the tree management server computer 100 via wireless data communication by the mobile communication module 206 or wireless data communication by the local communication module 212 and the internet network N. Therefore, inspectors can bring the management mobile terminal 200 to the location of the trees to be managed and input inspection-related data such as tree location and photographs while confirming the trees at their location.

[0042] Furthermore, storage 203 stores an operating system (OS) for providing various functions of the management mobile terminal 200 (wireless data communication function, imaging function, GPS function, touch panel function, display function), as well as a browser application used to access the tree management server computer 100.

[0043] <Communication between the management mobile terminal and the tree management server computer> Figure 9 shows the interaction between the management mobile terminal 200 and the tree management server computer 100. In this embodiment of the tree management system, first, the inspector launches a browser application on the management mobile terminal 200 and accesses the tree management server computer 100. The URL for accessing the tree management server computer 100 can be stored in the browser application beforehand, read and input using a 2D barcode, entered directly, or displayed as an icon on the home screen.

[0044] Accessing the tree management server computer 100 displays the authentication page shown in Figure 9. As mentioned above, in this embodiment of the tree management system, only inspectors (administrators) who have been issued an administrator ID can register data related to trees. Therefore, the following explanation will focus on the case where the inspector is an inspector (administrator) who has been issued an administrator ID.

[0045] The inspector (administrator) enters their user ID (park ID + administrator ID), password, and employee code on the authentication page. Subsequently, the screen displayed on the management mobile terminal 200 in this embodiment is displayed using a web browser via a browser application, as described above. By displaying and inputting information using a web browser via a browser application in this way, it becomes possible to perform inspections of trees planted in each park using a common tree management program that is independent of the operating system (OS) installed on the management mobile terminal 200, without having to provide different tree management programs to accommodate differences in the OS (operating system).

[0046] The management mobile terminal 200 (CPU 202), upon receiving the user ID (park ID + administrator ID), password, and employee code, transmits the login information, including the received user ID (park ID + administrator ID), password, and employee code, to the tree management server computer 100.

[0047] The tree management server computer 100 (CPU 101), upon receiving the login information, refers to the user table shown in Figure 5(A) and determines whether the user ID (park ID + administrator ID), password, and employee code included in the received login information are correct. If the user ID (park ID + administrator ID), password, and employee code are correct, it further refers to the tree data table shown in Figure 5(B) and identifies the park indicated by the park ID. Then, it sends initial screen display instruction information, including the HTML data for the initial screen (top page), to the management mobile terminal 200.

[0048] Furthermore, if the user ID (park ID + administrator ID), password, or employee code included in the received login information is incorrect, information indicating that one of the user ID (park ID + administrator ID), password, or employee code is incorrect will be sent to the management mobile terminal 200 (though not specifically illustrated). The management mobile terminal 200 will then display a notification image indicating that one of the user ID (park ID + administrator ID), password, or employee code is incorrect based on the receipt of this information.

[0049] The management mobile terminal 200 displays the initial screen (top page) shown in Figure 7(A) based on the initial screen display instruction information it has received. On this initial screen (top page), both the "Tree List" and "Map" operation items are displayed in a way that is visible to the inspector. The inspector can select either the "Tree List" or the "Map" by operating the touch panel module 211 or the like.

[0050] In this state, if the inspector selects either "Tree List" or "Map," the management mobile terminal 200 sends tree data request information, including operation information corresponding to the selected item from "Tree List" and "Map," to the tree management server computer 100. If the selected item is "Map," the location information (GPS data) of the management mobile terminal 200 at that time is acquired using the GPS module 209, and tree data request information including this location information (GPS data) is sent, which is used to display the current location on the dedicated map page described later.

[0051] Upon receiving the tree data request information, the tree management server computer 100 refers to the tree data table shown in Figure 5(B) and identifies all the tree data to be managed that is stored in association with the park identified from the authenticated park ID. At this time, if the operation information included in the received tree data request information corresponds to the selection of "Tree List" (the selected item is "Tree List"), the tree management server computer 100 sends tree list data, including HTML data for the tree list page corresponding to the identified tree data, to the management mobile terminal 200. Then, based on the received tree list data, the management mobile terminal 200 displays the tree list page as shown in Figure 7(C).

[0052] As shown in Figure 7(C), on the tree list page, the names of trees with a trunk circumference of 300 cm or more are displayed in bold, while the names of trees with a trunk circumference of less than 300 cm are displayed in regular font. Therefore, on the tree list page of this embodiment, inspectors can easily grasp the bias in the size of trees planted in the park and the number of trees with a trunk circumference of 300 cm or more based on the thickness of the characters that make up the tree names.

[0053] Furthermore, on the tree list page, the background color of each tree differs according to the status of the corresponding tree. Specifically, as shown in Figure 11(A), a yellow background indicates that the inspection items for the corresponding tree have not been entered, i.e., it has not been inspected; a gray background indicates that the corresponding tree has already been cut down; and a white background indicates that the inspection items for the corresponding tree have been entered, i.e., it has been inspected. Therefore, on the tree list page of this embodiment, inspectors can easily grasp the status of each tree by its background color.

[0054] Returning to Figure 9, if the operation information included in the received tree data request information corresponds to the selection of "Map" (the selected item is "Map"), the tree management server computer 100 accesses and transmits the park's location information, identified from the authenticated park ID, to the map server computer 110 to obtain park map data corresponding to the user ID (park ID). Based on the obtained park map data and the identified tree data's location information, it creates a dedicated map page for the park corresponding to the park ID. Then, it transmits the dedicated map data, including the HTML data of the created dedicated map page, to the management mobile terminal 200. Based on the received dedicated map data, the management mobile terminal 200 displays the park's dedicated map page as shown in Figure 7(B). The dedicated map page also displays a current location marker indicating the current location of the management mobile terminal 200 based on the location information (GPS data) included in the tree data request information, and icons representing each tree within the park.

[0055] Furthermore, while the dedicated map page is displayed, location information (GPS data) acquired from the GPS module 209 is sequentially transmitted to the tree management server computer 100 at predetermined intervals (for example, every 5 seconds), thereby updating the position of the current location marker. In this embodiment, since the dedicated map page is based on a web page, the tree management server computer 100 is responsible for updating the position of the current location marker. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the updates of these current location markers may be performed by the management mobile terminal 200 at a shorter interval than the predetermined period described above.

[0056] As shown in Figure 7(B), on the dedicated map page, icons representing trees with a trunk circumference of 300 cm or more are displayed with a thick border and the number within the icon is displayed in bold, while icons representing trees with a trunk circumference of less than 300 cm are displayed with a thin border and the number within the icon is displayed in thin font. Therefore, in the display of the dedicated map page of this embodiment, inspectors can easily grasp the uneven distribution of tree sizes planted in the park and the number of trees with a trunk circumference of 300 cm or more by looking at the thickness of the border of the icons representing each tree and the thickness of the numbers within the icons.

[0057] On the dedicated map page, the display color within the icon representing each tree, as well as the color of the icon's text and border, differ according to the condition and type of the corresponding tree. Specifically, as shown in Figure 11(B), a yellow display color indicates that the inspection items for the corresponding tree have not been entered, i.e., it has not been inspected; a gray display color indicates that the corresponding tree has already been cut down; and a white display color indicates that the inspection items for the corresponding tree have been entered, i.e., it has been inspected. Therefore, on the dedicated map page of this embodiment, inspectors can easily grasp the condition of each tree by its display color.

[0058] As shown in Figure 11, the meaning of the display colors on the tree list page and the meaning of the icon colors on the dedicated map page are the same, which prevents inspectors from misinterpreting the meaning of these colors. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the appearance of these colors, etc., may be different on the tree list page and the dedicated map page.

[0059] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11(C), if the color of the icon's text and frame is black, it indicates that the corresponding tree type is a regularly inspected tree, that is, a tree that is subject to inspection at predetermined intervals as a tree managed by the tree management system in this embodiment; if the color of the icon's text and frame is green, it indicates that the corresponding tree type is a famous tree; and if the color of the icon's text and frame is blue, it indicates that the corresponding tree type has not been specified.

[0060] In this embodiment, the tree management system exemplified by the dedicated map page shows that the text and frame colors of the icons corresponding to trees are black if the type is a tree requiring periodic inspection, green if the type is a famous tree, and blue if the type is not specified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for trees of the type giant tree (tree height, trunk circumference, or canopy spread exceeding a predetermined length), the text and frame of the icons may be displayed in colors other than the aforementioned black, green, and blue.

[0061] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 7(B) and 7(C), a "Filter" option is displayed in a designated location on the display screen of these dedicated map pages and tree list pages (in this embodiment, the upper right corner of each display screen). Although not specifically shown in Figure 9, the management mobile terminal 200 displays the filtering condition selection screen shown in Figure 7(D) when the inspector selects this "Filter" option.

[0062] On the selection screen for the filtering conditions, items such as the type and condition of trees planted in the park (in this embodiment, items such as "Regularly inspected trees," "Famous trees," "Giant trees," "Including felled / excluded trees," and "Only those not entered") are displayed, as well as an item indicating the range in which icons corresponding to each tree centered on the management mobile terminal 200 will be displayed on the dedicated map page (the item "Show nearby trees").

[0063] In particular, to the right of the "Show nearby trees" item, a pull-down menu is displayed for adjusting the range of trees to be displayed on the dedicated map page and list view (the distance to the trees to be displayed, centered on the location of the management mobile terminal 200). By operating this pull-down menu, inspectors can adjust the range in which icons corresponding to each tree are displayed on the dedicated map page, and the number of trees displayed in the list view from multiple options (for example, five types: "100", "200", "300", "400", and "500"), as appropriate according to the size of the park, etc.

[0064] When the management mobile terminal 200 receives a selection operation for each item on the filtering condition selection screen shown in Figure 7(D), it transmits filtering condition information, including the information of the selected item, to the tree management server computer 100. Furthermore, if the inspector selects the "Show nearby trees" item, the management mobile terminal 200 transmits the filtering condition information including the item selected from the pull-down menu and the location information of the management mobile terminal 200.

[0065] Upon receiving the filtering criteria information, the tree management server computer 100 refers to the tree record data table shown in Figure 6 and identifies trees that match the received filtering criteria information (whether or not they match the selected items from "Regularly inspected trees," "Famous trees," "Giant trees," "Including felled / excluded trees," and "Only trees with no input," and the range selected for "Display nearby trees"). Based on the tree data of the identified trees, the tree management server computer 100 recreates tree list data and dedicated map data, and transmits this recreated tree list data and dedicated map data to the management mobile terminal 200.

[0066] By doing this, the management mobile terminal 200 can receive tree list data and dedicated map data again from the tree management server computer 100, and then display the tree list page and dedicated map page according to the filtering conditions.

[0067] Returning to Figure 9, when the tree list page or dedicated map page described above is displayed, and the inspector makes a tree selection operation on the touch panel module 211 (selection of each tree name by the inspector if the tree list page is displayed, or selection of an icon corresponding to each tree if the dedicated map page is displayed), the management mobile terminal 200 transmits inspection page data request information, which includes tree identification information consisting of the tree number and park ID of the tree corresponding to the selection operation, to the tree management server computer 100.

[0068] Upon receiving the inspection page data request information, the tree management server computer 100 identifies a tree corresponding to the tree selection operation from the tree identification information contained in the inspection page data request information, and reads the data stored in the tree medical record data table, which associates the tree number contained in the tree identification information with the park ID, as the data for that tree.

[0069] Then, it is determined whether the retrieved tree data contains tree location data, that is, whether the tree location has been initially registered. The reason for making this determination is that when the tree management system is put into operation, when a new park is added to the list of managed trees, or when trees are added to the list of managed trees due to planting, etc., the management PC terminal 300 is pre-entered with the necessary options for each inspection item for the trees present in the park, such as tree species and type, and then the management mobile terminal 200 is used to additionally input information that needs to be inspected on-site, such as location, photographs, and trunk circumference. This is preferable because it allows for a controlled and systematic inspection, but the present invention is not limited to this. By operating the "Create New" operation menu on the tree list page shown in Figure 7(C) displayed on the management mobile terminal 200, it is also possible to register data for unregistered trees on the management mobile terminal 200.

[0070] If tree locations are registered, the process proceeds to A in Figure 10. If tree locations are not registered, a first inspection page is created that reflects the retrieved tree data, and the first inspection page data, including the HTML data of the created first inspection page, is sent (returned) to the management mobile terminal 200.

[0071] This first inspection page is the same as the inspection page shown in Figure 8, but the "Location Information Registration" operation menu is operational (active), while the "Camera Activation" and "Photo Upload" operation menus are inoperable (inactive) until the acquisition of tree locations through the "Location Information Registration" operation menu is complete. By displaying such a first inspection page on the management mobile terminal 200, the inspector will acquire location information at the location of the tree to be inspected before taking a photograph of the tree.

[0072] The reason for guiding the system to acquire location information before taking photographs of trees is that, since trees are relatively large, capturing their entirety requires taking the photograph from a considerable distance away from the tree. If location information is registered at the location where these photographs were taken, an inaccurate location would be registered. Prioritizing the acquisition (registration) of location information over photographic capture helps to prevent such inaccurate location registrations.

[0073] The management mobile terminal 200 displays the first inspection page (see Figure 8) based on the first inspection page data that has been sent (replied). Then, on the first inspection page displayed on the management mobile terminal 200, when the inspector operates the "Location Information Registration" operation menu at the location of the tree to be inspected, the location information (GPS data) at that time is acquired from the GPS module 209 and temporarily stored in the management mobile terminal 200 as the tree's location, making the "Camera Activation" and "Photo Upload" operation menus operable (active) (tree location registration control).

[0074] In this embodiment, the location information (GPS data) acquired when operating the "Location Information Registration" operation menu is not immediately transmitted to the tree management server computer 100, but is temporarily stored in the management mobile terminal 200 and then transmitted to the tree management server computer 100 together with other data such as photo data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as a special case, the location information (GPS data) acquired when operating the "Location Information Registration" operation menu on the first inspection page may be transmitted immediately to the tree management server computer 100 for registration separately from other data.

[0075] As described above, when the "Camera Activation" and "Photo Upload" operation menus are activated, the inspector moves to a position away from the tree to which they can take a photograph of the entire tree, for example, and activates the camera function of the management mobile terminal 200 by operating the "Camera Activation" operation menu to take a photograph of the tree under inspection. In addition, before and after taking these photographs, the inspector performs an inspection of the tree under inspection and inputs the inspection results into each item on the first inspection page using an input means such as the touch panel module 211. The management mobile terminal 200 receives this input data and temporarily stores it as data for each item.

[0076] Once the inspector has completed entering all the information in each field on the first inspection page, they operate the "Register" operation menu located at the bottom of the first inspection page. In response to this operation, the management mobile terminal 200 transmits the temporarily stored data for each field (including location information and tree photographs) as inspected tree data to the tree management server computer 100. At this time, input checks for required fields and consistency checks between fields are performed to ensure that accurate information is entered and registered.

[0077] The tree management server computer 100, upon receiving the inspected tree data, stores each piece of data (including location information and tree photographs) contained in the received inspected tree data in the tree data table and tree medical record data table, thereby updating them as tree data. It also updates the inspected flag to 1, indicating "inspected," and registers the date the inspection was performed as the previous inspection date.

[0078] On the other hand, if tree locations are registered, the tree management server computer 100 proceeds to A in Figure 10, creates a second inspection page that reflects the retrieved tree data, and sends (replies to) the management mobile terminal 200 the second inspection page data, including the HTML data of the created second inspection page.

[0079] In this embodiment, the second inspection page, like the first inspection page, has the "Location Information Registration" operation menu enabled (active), and the "Camera Activation" and "Photo Upload" operation menus are also enabled (active). However, to prevent unnecessary "Location Information Registration" and incorrect location registration due to accidental operation, the "Location Information Registration" operation menu is disabled (inactive) on the second inspection page.

[0080] The management mobile terminal 200 displays the second inspection page (see Figure 8) based on the second inspection page data that has been transmitted (replied). On the displayed second inspection page, the inspector sees the data (including photos) for each item related to the trees to be inspected, which was pre-entered on the first inspection page. The inspector then enters any changes while actually checking the trees to be inspected and takes additional photos as needed.

[0081] When a photograph of a tree is input as one of these inputs, the GPS module 209 acquires the location information (GPS data) of the management mobile terminal 200 at the time of the image capture and transmits it to the tree management server computer 100 as photograph capture location data.

[0082] Upon receiving photographic location data, the tree management server computer 100 compares the location information contained in the photographic location data with the location information stored in the tree medical record data table, and determines whether the location identified from the location information contained in the photographic location data (the location of the management mobile terminal 200 at the time of imaging) is outside the specified range from the location identified from the location information stored in the tree medical record data table (the registered location of the tree to be inspected) (for example, the location of the management mobile terminal 200 is within a radius of 50 meters from the tree to be inspected).

[0083] The size of the specific range used for these determinations can be appropriately selected according to the performance (resolution performance) of the GPS function of the terminal being used, but it is preferable to use a range of 50 meters or less, as exemplified in this embodiment. Furthermore, since the size of these specific ranges may vary greatly depending on the size of the park and the density and species of trees planted in the park, it may be possible to change them individually for each park, or to apply different sizes of specific ranges depending on the density and species of trees to make the determination.

[0084] If the detection result is outside the specified range, the tree management server computer 100 transmits warning information indicating that the location of the management mobile terminal 200 is excessively far from the tree being inspected. Upon receiving the warning information, the management mobile terminal 200 displays a warning image indicating that the location of the management mobile terminal 200 is excessively far from the tree being inspected, as shown in Figure 12, and erases (discards) the temporarily stored tree photograph data. If the detection result is within the specified range, the tree management server computer 100 returns to the state before receiving the photograph location data, and no warnings are displayed on the management mobile terminal 200.

[0085] When a warning image is displayed, the management mobile terminal 200 prompts the inspector to re-image the tree being inspected by displaying the second inspection page again. If the tree is re-imaged, the photo capture location data is sent to the tree management server computer 100 again, just as with the previous capture, and a comparison is performed with the registered location of the tree being inspected. This prevents the acquisition of incorrect tree photo capture data.

[0086] Furthermore, before and after taking the photographs described above, the inspector inspects the trees to be inspected and enters the inspection results into each item on the second inspection page using an input means such as the touch panel module 211. The management mobile terminal 200 receives this entered data and temporarily stores it as data for each item.

[0087] Once the inspector has completed entering all the information in each field on the second inspection page, they operate the "Register" operation menu located at the bottom of the second inspection page. At this time, accurate information input and registration are ensured by performing input checks for required fields and consistency checks between fields. The flow after operating the "Register" operation menu is the same as for the first inspection page, as shown in Figure 10, so the explanation is omitted here. In this embodiment, a configuration up to the second inspection page is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration with a third inspection page and beyond may also be provided. Even when a third inspection page and beyond are provided, the flow after operating the "Register" operation menu may be the same as for the first inspection page.

[0088] In this way, in the tree management system of this embodiment, inspection data of trees planted in each park, particularly location information and photographic data, can be acquired and input using the management mobile terminal 200 at the actual location where the trees are planted. This eliminates the inconvenience of inspectors having to take notes at the location of the trees under management, and the data entered using the management mobile terminal 200 is managed as tree management data (new tree data) on the tree management server computer 100, thereby increasing the efficiency of tree management data creation. Furthermore, since inspectors can verify the accuracy of the entered data on the spot, the accuracy of the tree management data can also be improved.

[0089] Furthermore, as an input means in this embodiment, the management mobile terminal 200 is equipped with a GPS module 209 that acquires location information that can identify the location of the management mobile terminal 200. The location information acquired by the GPS module 209 is included in the inspected tree data and transmitted to the tree management server computer 100. As a result, the inspector can acquire location information at the location of the trees under management and easily transmit the accurate location of the trees under management as inspected tree data to the tree management server computer 100, allowing the server computer to manage the accurate location information.

[0090] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the management mobile terminal 200 can transmit images captured using the camera module 208, along with location information, to the tree management server computer 100 as inspected tree data. This allows the tree management server computer 100 to manage the location and images of the trees under management.

[0091] Furthermore, in the tree management system of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, tree location registration control is performed to execute the acquisition of location information using the GPS module 209 at a time prior to the imaging of trees using the camera module 208. This minimizes the risk of inaccurate location information for trees being inspected, which would result from the GPS module 209 acquiring location information at a location far from the location of the trees being managed in order to image the trees.

[0092] In this embodiment, we illustrate a configuration in which tree location registration control is always performed if no tree location has been registered yet. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and in a configuration in which this tree location registration control is not performed, it may be possible to perform imaging of trees using the camera module 208 before the initial location registration.

[0093] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, if the tree management server computer 100 determines that the position of the management mobile terminal 200 that has taken an image is outside a predetermined range from the registered position of the tree to be inspected, the management mobile terminal 200 displays a warning image indicating that the position of the management mobile terminal 200 is excessively far from the tree to be inspected. In this way, the display of the warning image on the management mobile terminal 200 prevents erroneous photography and allows the inspector to recognize that the positional relationship between the managed tree and the management mobile terminal 200 is accurate.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the determination of whether or not the range is outside a predetermined range is illustrated in an example where the tree management server computer 100 performs the determination. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the determination may be performed by the management portable terminal 200.

[0095] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a method was illustrated in which a warning notification image is displayed on the management mobile terminal 200 to make the inspector aware that the trees under management are in a different location from the management mobile terminal 200. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the inspector may be made aware that the registered location of the trees under management is different from the current location of the management mobile terminal 200 by means of outputting a specific sound such as a beep from the management mobile terminal 200, or by illuminating the screen of the management mobile terminal 200.

[0096] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the management mobile terminal 200 can identify trees within a predetermined range from the current location of the management mobile terminal 200 on the screen for selecting filtering conditions shown in Figure 7(D), and the data of the identified trees can be displayed in a list. Therefore, inspectors can easily identify trees within a predetermined range from the management mobile terminal 200 among the trees to be managed, reducing the effort required to select trees to be inspected and the time spent traveling to those trees.

[0097] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the management mobile terminal 200 allows the user to change the distance from the current location of the management mobile terminal 200 to the identifiable trees on the filtering condition selection screen shown in Figure 7(D). This further reduces the effort required to select the trees to be inspected and the time spent traveling to those trees.

[0098] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the management mobile terminal 200 displays uninspected trees with a yellow background color in the list view and dedicated map page, while displaying inspected trees with a white background color. This allows inspectors to easily recognize whether a tree is displayed with a yellow or white background color, enabling them to efficiently inspect trees.

[0099] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the management mobile terminal 200, when displaying the tree list page or dedicated map page, accepts a tree selection operation from the inspector using the touch panel module 211, and displays an inspection page that includes inspection items for uninspected trees. As a result, the inspector can easily recognize the inspection items for uninspected trees simply by selecting trees with a yellow background, thus enabling tree inspections to be performed without complicated operations.

[0100] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and any changes or additions that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included.

[0101] For example, in the tree management system described above, an example was shown in which inspections of trees planted in each park are performed via a web browser pre-installed on a management mobile terminal 200. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an application specifically for the tree management system of the present invention may be pre-installed on the management mobile terminal 200, and inspections of trees planted in each park may be performed via this dedicated application.

[0102] Furthermore, in the tree management system described above, as shown in Figure 9, the management mobile terminal 200 acquires its location information when it receives inspection page data, and then takes photographs of the trees to be inspected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the timing at which the management mobile terminal 200 acquires its location information may be anytime between the time it receives inspection page data and the time it transmits the inspected tree data to the tree management server computer 100.

[0103] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, the tree management server computer 100 is shown to determine whether the location indicated by the location information included in the inspected tree data (the location of the management mobile terminal 200) is outside a specific range from the location indicated by the location information stored in the tree medical record data table (the location of the tree to be inspected). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the determination of whether the location indicated by the location information included in the inspected tree data is outside a specific range from the location indicated by the location information stored in the tree medical record data table may be performed by the management mobile terminal 200.

[0104] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in Figures 7(A) to 7(C), the management mobile terminal 200 displays a corresponding display (the tree list page if "tree list" is selected, and the dedicated map page if "map" is selected) when the inspector selects an item such as "tree list" or "map" displayed on the initial screen (top page). In other words, the invention is illustrated as a form in which switching between the tree list page and the dedicated map page is performed via the initial screen (top page). However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the "map" item is selected while the tree list page is being displayed, the management mobile terminal 200 may display the dedicated map page instead of the tree list page. Similarly, if the "tree list" item is selected while the dedicated map page is being displayed, the management mobile terminal 200 may display the tree list page instead of the dedicated map page. In this way, the status of each tree present in the park can be efficiently grasped. In the above-described embodiment, when the "Location within the park" item shown in Figure 7(C) is selected, the management mobile terminal 200 displays the tree list page instead of the dedicated map page. Also, when a number is selected on the map shown in Figure 7(B) while the dedicated map page is displayed, the screen switches to the inspection page for that tree.

[0105] Furthermore, in this embodiment, for trees inspected using the management mobile terminal 200, the tree management server computer 100 sets an inspected flag corresponding to the tree in the tree medical record data table to identify that the tree has been inspected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the tree management server computer 100 may periodically refer to the last inspection date of trees for which the inspected flag is set in the tree medical record data table, and if a specific period (for example, July to September) has passed since the last inspection, the inspected flag may be cleared (the inspected flag value may be set to "0"). In this way, trees for which the inspected flag has been cleared become trees that can be inspected again by inspectors, making it possible to periodically inspect each tree planted in the park.

[0106] Furthermore, although the operation of the management PC terminal 300 is not described in detail in the above embodiment, in the same way as the management mobile terminal 200, when an inspector (administrator) logs in to the tree management server computer 100, a PC-based tree list page and a dedicated PC-based map page (not shown) are displayed, just like with the management mobile terminal 200. By selecting a tree on these PC-based tree list page and dedicated PC-based map page, detailed data such as the tree's photograph and location can be viewed, and editing such as modifying or deleting the data can be performed. In this way, the convenience of the tree management system can be improved, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the management PC terminal 300 may only allow viewing of tree data.

[0107] Furthermore, while the above-described embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the management mobile terminal 200, management PC terminal 300, tree management server computer 100, map server computer 110, and system administrator terminal 150 are connected to each other via the Internet network N, which is an open computer network, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each park may be connected to the tree management server computer 100, etc., via a dedicated line to form a closed computer network connection.

[0108] Furthermore, while the above-described embodiment illustrates a configuration in which location information is acquired when imaging is performed using the management mobile terminal 200 and compared with the registered location of the tree under management, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, location information may be acquired when data for specific items other than photographs, such as items that require approaching the tree under inspection, is entered on the second inspection page, and this information may be compared with the registered location of the tree under management.

[0109] Furthermore, while the above-described embodiment illustrates a configuration in which uninspected trees are displayed on both the tree list page and the dedicated map page, the present invention is not limited to this. It may also be implemented on only one of the tree list page or the dedicated map page, or in a configuration in which uninspected trees are not displayed at all.

[0110] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a configuration is shown in which the camera function menu cannot be operated unless location information is registered as a tree location registration control. While this is preferable because it ensures that location information registration takes precedence over photographic capture, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of making the camera function menu inoperable, the camera function menu may be operated, but a message such as "Please register location information first" may be displayed during operation to ensure that location information registration takes precedence.

[0111] Furthermore, while the above-described embodiment illustrates a form in which the managed facility is a park, the present invention is not limited to this. These managed facilities may be, for example, shrines or temples, or nationwide chain golf courses or hot spring facilities. The present invention can be applied to any facility that requires tree management.

[0112] Furthermore, while the above-described embodiment illustrates a form in which the ID used to authenticate each inspector does not include company codes, etc., these IDs may also include company code information. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0113] 100 Server computers for tree management (server computers) 110 Map server computer 150 System Administrator Terminals 200 Management mobile terminals (mobile terminals) 206 Mobile communication module (wireless data communication means) 208 Camera module (imaging means) 209 GPS module (means for acquiring location information) 211 Touch panel module (input means) 212 Local communication module (wireless data communication means) N Internet Network

Claims

1. A tree management system comprising at least a portable terminal that can be carried by an inspector and a server computer connected to a computer network capable of data communication, The aforementioned mobile terminal is An input means capable of inputting tree data related to trees under management, A wireless data communication means capable of performing data communication with the server computer via the aforementioned computer network using wireless communication, Equipped with, The tree data input by the input means is transmitted to the server computer using the wireless data communication means. The server computer stores the tree data transmitted from the mobile terminal as tree management data. A tree management system characterized by the following features.

2. The input means includes location information acquisition means for acquiring location information that can identify the location of the mobile terminal, The mobile terminal transmits the location information acquired by the location information acquisition means to the server computer as tree data using the wireless data communication means. The tree management system according to feature 1.

3. The input means includes an imaging means capable of capturing an image of the tree to be managed, The mobile terminal transmits the tree image captured by the imaging means to the server computer as tree data using the wireless data communication means. The tree management system according to feature 1.

4. The input means includes an imaging means capable of capturing an image of the tree to be managed, The mobile terminal can transmit the tree image captured by the imaging means and the location information acquired by the location information acquisition means as tree data to the server computer via the wireless data communication means. The tree management system according to feature 2.

5. The mobile terminal includes a priority control means that causes the acquisition of location information by the location information acquisition means to precede the capture of tree images by the imaging means. The tree management system according to feature 4.

6. The position identification information acquisition means is capable of acquiring the position identification information when imaging is performed by the imaging means, A determination means capable of determining whether the location identified by the location identification information acquired by the location identification information acquisition means is within a specified range from the location of the tree to be managed, If the determination result of the determination means is that the position is not within the specified range, a notification means capable of outputting a notification corresponding to the determination result is provided. Equipped with The tree management system according to feature 4.

7. The input means includes location information acquisition means for acquiring location information that can identify the current location of the mobile terminal, The mobile terminal is equipped with tree identification means capable of identifying trees within a predetermined range from its current location, The tree data of the trees identified by the aforementioned tree identification means can be displayed in a list on the mobile terminal. The tree management system according to feature 1.

8. The system includes a predetermined range changing means that can change the predetermined range based on the operation of the mobile terminal. The tree management system according to feature 7.

9. The aforementioned mobile terminal is For facilities that have trees under management, it is possible to display a list of tree data for the trees under management, as well as a map displaying the location of each tree. The list display and the map display can be switched between. The tree management system according to feature 1.

10. The facility is equipped with an inspection determination means capable of determining whether or not the trees within the facility under management have been inspected. The mobile terminal displays, in at least one of the list display and the map display, trees that have been determined to be uninspected in a first manner, while trees that have been determined to be inspected in a second manner different from the first manner. The tree management system according to feature 9.

11. The input means includes an operation reception means for receiving operations from the inspector. The mobile terminal, in at least one of the list display and the map display, accepts an operation regarding the trees displayed in the first embodiment and displays an inspection page that includes inspection items for uninspected trees. The tree management system according to feature 10.

12. The system further comprises a specific terminal, which is different from the aforementioned mobile terminal and is capable of connecting to the server computer, The aforementioned specific terminal can connect to the server computer and edit the tree management data. The tree management system according to feature 1.

Images