It is crucial to comprehend the quality, quantity, and well-being of our trees in various settings, from dense forests to sparsely populated streetscapes, to enhance our environment. Trees play a pivotal role in providing numerous benefits and services to our planet, such as purifying the air, mitigating erosion, and reducing heat. Although evaluating tree canopies might appear intimidating for many communities, establishing a baseline screening is feasible.
To make the task of assessing tree canopies more accessible, we have developed a tailored community canopy screening tool using a range of workflows and algorithms. This web-based application empowers communities to determine the total number of trees, the extent of the canopy, the height of the trees, and their precise location. This valuable information can aid governments, community-based organizations, and ordinary citizens to initiate or revive an urban forestry program. It allows data-driven decision-making to allocate resources to enhance canopy health, promote shade equity, and commence new forestry initiatives.
Understanding the number, size, and health of trees in various landscapes is crucial to fostering a healthy environment. By employing our community canopy screening tool, stakeholders can make informed decisions regarding the deployment of resources to ensure that all areas have adequate tree cover, especially those that may have been historically underserved. With this tool, citizens can take charge of their environment and initiate positive changes by planting more trees, advocating for tree preservation, and investing in the growth and maintenance of their local urban forests.
Authors: Ryan Kmetz & Jose Pillich
Partnership: IQSpatial