Use Existing Trees to model surveyed trees within a Revit project, preserve arboricultural information, assess design impacts, coordinate tree protection requirements, and produce accurate documentation throughout the project lifecycle.

Existing Trees form the basis for retention, removal, and protection decisions during concept, developed, and technical design stages.

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Prerequisites

Before creating Existing Trees:

1. Tree survey information is available.
2. Existing tree locations have been coordinated with the project survey.
3. Arboricultural data has been reviewed.
4. Required project units and coordinate systems have been established.
5. Existing tree visibility settings are enabled.

Outcome: The project is ready for existing tree modelling and coordination.

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1. Import or Create Existing Tree Data

1. Open the project model.
2. Launch the Existing Tree workflow.
3. Import available tree survey information where applicable.
4. Review imported tree records.
5. Verify tree locations against the project survey.

Outcome: Existing tree data is available within the model.

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2. Create Existing Tree Types

1. Review imported or surveyed tree species.

2. Create new Existing Tree types where required.

3. Populate key arboricultural information including:

   • Botanical name
   • Common name
   • Tree category
   • Survey reference number
   • Height
   • Crown spread
   • Stem diameter
   • Condition
   • Life expectancy

4. Save the tree types.

Outcome: Existing tree information is standardised and available for use throughout the project.

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3. Place Existing Trees

1. Select the required Existing Tree type.
2. Place trees at surveyed locations.
3. Verify placement in plan view.
4. Review positioning in 3D views where necessary.
5. Adjust locations to match survey information.

Outcome: Existing trees are accurately represented within the project model.

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4. Review and Update Tree Information

1. Select an Existing Tree.
2. Open the edit properties interface.
3. Review:
   • Species
   • Survey number
   • Height
   • Stem diameter
   • Crown spread
   • Condition
   • Retention status
4. Update any project-specific information as required.

Outcome: Existing tree data accurately reflects the latest survey information.

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5. Generate Tree Protection Zones

1. Review project and arboricultural requirements.
2. Create Tree Protection Areas where required.
3. Verify the protection extent around each retained tree.
4. Review overlaps with:
   • Buildings
   • Roads
   • Services
   • Hard landscaping
   • Construction access routes

Outcome: Tree protection requirements become visible for design coordination.

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6. Assess Design Impact

1. Overlay proposed works with existing trees.
2. Review potential conflicts between:
   • Retained trees
   • Proposed buildings
   • Utilities
   • Roads
   • Landscape elements
3. Identify trees requiring:
   • Retention
   • Removal
   • Further assessment
4. Update design proposals as required.

Outcome: Existing trees are incorporated into the design decision-making process.

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7. Tag Existing Trees

1. Open the tagging tools.
2. Select the required tag style.
3. Tag individual trees or multiple trees.
4. Verify tag visibility and readability.
5. Confirm survey numbers match project documentation.

Outcome: Existing tree information is displayed clearly within project drawings.

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8. Generate Existing Tree Schedules

1. Open project schedules.
2. Refresh schedule data.
3. Review:
   • Tree reference number
   • Species
   • Height
   • Crown spread
   • Stem diameter
   • Condition
   • Category
   • Retention status
4. Verify results against the arboricultural survey.

Outcome: Existing tree schedules provide a coordinated record of surveyed trees.

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9. Manage Retention and Removal Status

1. Review the project arboricultural strategy.
2. Assign the appropriate status to each tree:
   • Retain
   • Remove
   • Transplant
   • Under Review
3. Verify status information appears correctly in schedules and annotations.
4. Coordinate with arboricultural consultants as required.

Outcome: Tree management decisions are documented and coordinated.

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10. Produce Project Documentation

1. Create:
   • Existing Tree Plans
   • Tree Constraints Plans
   • Arboricultural Coordination Plans
   • Tree Schedules
2. Add schedules and views to project sheets.
3. Verify consistency between plans, schedules, and annotations.
4. Publish project documentation.

Outcome: Existing tree information is fully documented for design, planning, and construction processes.

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Verification Checklist

• ✅ Tree survey information has been imported or created.
• ✅ Existing tree locations match survey data.
• ✅ Species and arboricultural attributes have been reviewed.
• ✅ Tree Protection Areas have been generated where required.
• ✅ Design conflicts have been assessed.
• ✅ Trees have been tagged correctly.
• ✅ Existing Tree schedules have been verified.
• ✅ Retention and removal statuses have been assigned.
• ✅ Project documentation has been updated.

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Recommended Next Step

After completing the Existing Tree model, develop the Proposed Planting and Tree Protection workflows to coordinate retained trees with new planting, construction activities, utility routes, and arboricultural protection requirements before progressing to detailed design documentation.