Founded by Art Maat of Edmonton Alberta, Canada, HisTREE.netTM is a web based SaSS (Software as a Secure Service) product designed to meet the industry need for a unified information tracking system, addressing asset and inventory management, maintenance monitoring, scheduling and trade processes within the landscaping, horticultural, parks and urban forest industry settings. With no consistent method or technology available for information recording and collaboration across and within the industry, Mr. Maat has recognized the benefits that would come from the creation of a cohesive web based tool for the entire green and open space industry . This solution would encompass users and participants from suppliers and contractors through to parks and urban forest custodians.
With over 35 years of experience in the horticulture, landscaping and site development industries, Mr. Maat, also president of Wilco Contractors NorthWest Inc. in Edmonton, has long been a key driver of technology based solutions within the Wilco Group of Companies. Starting in 2003, an internal process was used by Wilco, that included bar code tags to uniquely identify and tag trees as well as basic GIS/GPS mapping used for location management. This was the catalyst for the creation of a high-tech but simple inexpensive industry wide solution.
Since bar code tags need line of sight for readability and are difficult to scan in many outdoor conditions, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) was chosen instead. An affordable, proven and readily available technology, RFID provided the perfect answer to tree and asset tagging and information recording. As well, readily available web mapping technology, is fully utilized to provide powerful mapping query capabilities, as all events are geo-tagged and viewable in satellite views on desktop computers with web access, hand held Windows Mobile units or smart phones.
HisTREE.netTM has evolved from a local needs based solution to a comprehensive industry wide service and standard that is now commercially available to the participants across the industry worldwide.