QGIS & ArcGIS vs IDA Trees for municipal tree management
GIS tools are powerful for map visualization, but lack essential workflows for professional tree management. Discover when to use which tool — and why they work perfectly together.
Many municipalities have years of experience with QGIS or ArcGIS for their spatial data. These tools excel at what they're designed for: visualizing, analyzing, and managing geographic data. But when it comes to the daily practice of tree management — VTA inspections, approval workflows, project management, contractor collaboration — the limitations quickly surface.
IDA is not a replacement for GIS software. It's a complement. Where QGIS and ArcGIS stop at the map, IDA begins with the workflow. And because IDA seamlessly exports to Shapefile, GeoPackage, and other GIS formats, you maintain full control over your spatial data in the system of your choice.
Where GIS tools fall short
QGIS and ArcGIS are generic GIS platforms. For tree management, they lack crucial functionality.
GIS tools manage any geographic layer — from sewers to traffic lights. They don't know tree-specific workflows like VTA protocols, growth tracking, or maintenance cycles. Starting a VTA project, assigning field workers, monitoring progress, and approving results requires custom scripting or manual work in Excel alongside your GIS.
What IDA adds
IDA is designed for one thing: professional tree management for municipalities and arborists.
Tree-specific workflows
From VTA inspections to felling permits — all standard modules are ready to use. Complies with industry standards, including validations and automatic calculations.
Mobile inspection app
Your field workers register inspections on-site with photos, GPS location, and validated fields. Everything syncs directly to your central dashboard.
Project management built-in
Create projects, assign teams, track progress in real-time. See exactly which trees are completed, which are pending, and where your team is working now.
Approval queue
New trees and removals go through your review first. You assess with photos and context before it enters your official dataset. Full control.
IDA Exclusive Features
Feature comparison
When to use what?
The right tool for the right job — often the answer is: both.
Use QGIS/ArcGIS only: You only want to view trees on a map and perform spatial analysis. Perfect for map visualization, calculating buffer zones, and spatial queries. No IDA needed.
Use IDA only: You manage daily tree inspections, maintenance, and mutation approvals. Use IDA as your primary system. Export to GIS when you need spatial analysis. IDA covers 95% of your daily workflow.
Use both: You manage a municipal tree inventory with VTA cycles, projects, and want advanced spatial analysis. Use IDA for daily management and workflow. Export regularly to your GIS for map analysis and board reporting. Best of both worlds.
IDA and GIS work together
Not a choice between A or B — IDA complements your GIS with tree-specific workflows.
Shapefile, GeoPackage, CSV, Excel — export your complete tree data including inspections, photos, and project history to the format of your choice. Want to keep your GIS as central data storage? No problem. IDA can synchronize with any system that has an API. You retain full control.
See how IDA complements your GIS
Schedule a demo and we'll show how IDA works with your existing systems. Bring your own dataset — we'll demonstrate with your data.
Free consultation • No obligations • View your own data