Forester UVM

Forester UVM is configurable GIS software for planning and tracking vegetation work at electric utilities. Its strongest fit is a utility coordinating office planners, field crews, and managers around shared maps and work records. It brings that workflow together, but it is not an imagery or analytics product, nor a replacement for asset management.

Overview

Forester UVM connects circuit mapping and work assignment with field updates, audits, and reporting. Planners can prioritize spans using GIS overlays, define work types, and assign jobs by crew, territory, or timeframe. That makes it suited to utilities that need vegetation work to move from map-based planning into crew execution and back into operational reporting.

Its configurable workflows let vegetation management staff adjust work types without IT or GIS assistance. This can help teams adapt processes as their program changes. The product’s scope has clear edges: it can use satellite, drone, and LIDAR imagery sources, but it does not create imagery or produce imagery analytics, and it does not replace an asset management system.

Key features

GIS planning and field work

Forester maps circuits and uses GIS overlays to help prioritize spans, then assigns work by crew, territory, or timeframe. In the field, its mobile app works offline and holds data locally until it synchronizes with the office database. That is useful for crews working beyond reliable connectivity, while office teams retain a route for receiving field updates.

Audits, metrics, and reports

The platform captures audit data and documents outcomes, with tracking for SAIDI and SAIFI reliability metrics. Role-based dashboards and dynamic reports give managers and executives views suited to their responsibilities. Power BI and Telerik power the dashboards; reporting also includes real-time cost and progress visibility and AI-powered query-based reports.

Integrations and imagery inputs

Forester can integrate with utility GIS, WMS, CIS, and OMS systems, plus tax assessor databases. Esri is identified as a partner, and the System Bridge component ingests remote-sensing analytics to create work packets. These connections can fit Forester into a broader utility workflow, but the imagery and analytics themselves must come from elsewhere.

Pricing

Forester UVM has paid, custom pricing. The maker invites prospective customers to request a demo, and no plan tiers or seat, usage, or renewal terms are stated. Utilities should request pricing against their intended crew and office access before comparing total cost with other products.

There is no published cheaper tier to weigh against the full product. The software is positioned for managers and foresters on the web portal, field planners and tree crews on mobile, and directors and executives viewing metrics; buyers should confirm how those roles affect their quote.

Platforms

Forester UVM supports Android, iOS, web, and Windows. That combination covers mobile field use and office access, with offline work on the mobile app and later synchronization to the office database.

Who it's for

Forester is a strong candidate for electric utilities that coordinate vegetation planning and execution across GIS maps, office teams, and field crews, especially when audit trails and reliability metrics matter. Its configurable work types may suit vegetation teams that need to adjust workflows without routing every change through IT or GIS staff.

It is a weaker fit for organizations seeking software to generate satellite imagery or analytics, or to manage assets beyond vegetation work. The company says it is hosted on Microsoft Azure and that customer data protection and security are priorities. Support requests sent to [email protected] are answered within 24 hours on weekdays; support hours are Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm PST or PDT.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Offline mobile work with later synchronization supports crews in areas with limited connectivity.
• Pros: GIS planning, assignments, audit records, and SAIDI/SAIFI tracking connect field execution with utility reporting.
• Pros: Vegetation staff can change work types and workflows without IT or GIS assistance.
• Cons: Custom pricing and no stated plan or seat terms make budgeting difficult before a sales conversation.
• Cons: Imagery and analytics must come from other sources, and the product does not replace asset management software.

Alternatives

For general tree-service operations, browse Tree Service Software. Choose Fieldified if scheduling, invoicing, CRM, and reporting with a free plan matter more; its free plan has usage limits, and its Basic plan is $49 a month billed for 5 users. Consider Clearion UVM as another paid utility vegetation management option across Android, iOS, web, and Windows.

UDC Vegetation Management is another paid option for the same four platforms; its customer-facing dashboard is an add-on. Sheltera may suit buyers comparing paid software that supports self-hosting, as well as Android, iOS, and Windows. Treetask offers a free plan and a £40 a month plan for up to three people, billed per business, with all features and unlimited surveys, quotes, and jobs; its stated start date is December 2026.

ArbScribe is a paid option with a free plan and trial on Android and iOS. Arb Pro is paid, has no free plan or trial, and supports mobile, desktop, and web platforms; additional mobile users cost £10 a month and additional desktop users £25 a month, plus VAT. MyArborPro Survey App is a paid web option.

Verdict

Utilities coordinating vegetation work from GIS planning through offline field execution, audits, and reliability reporting should consider Forester UVM. Its strongest reason to choose it is the connected workflow, with configurable processes and utility-system integrations. Look elsewhere if your priority is producing imagery or analytics, replacing asset management, or evaluating a defined price and seat plan before speaking with the vendor.