'Wall-to-wall' map of NYC trees could help cool cities worldwide
Researchers have created an interactive map identifying 1.8 million individual trees in New York City, using a new approach that could optimize the placement of trees for cooling in cities around the world.
An innovative interactive map has been developed to identify 1.8 million trees in New York City, with the potential to optimize tree placement for cooling in cities worldwide. Researchers achieved an 82% accuracy rate using a combination of satellite imagery, lidar data, and on-the-ground information. This wall-to-wall map, the first of its kind, covers 65% of the city's canopy, including trees on private and natural properties.
The research team hopes to leverage this data to determine the most effective trees for cooling and make informed planting decisions related to air quality, flooding, allergens, and pest control. The Cool Trees project, led by Dr. Arnab Ghosh and Daniel Katz, aims to expand this mapping to other major U.S. cities, providing valuable data for urban planning and research.
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