CanopyFit maps urban tree sites with greatest cooling potential

Researchers and city partners have created a modeling tool called CanopyFit to assist urban areas in adapting to rising temperatures. This tool maps the locations where new trees can offer the most cooling effect, accounting for urban constraints such as underground utilities, overhead wires, and existing infrastructure.

Led by Dr. Melissa McHale from UBC's faculty of forestry and environmental stewardship, CanopyFit aims to maximize the cooling benefits of urban trees while overcoming barriers to planting. The tool combines data on heat maps, shade models, and demographic information to pinpoint priority zones for tree planting. In Kelowna, neighborhoods like Rutland have been identified as high priorities for heat relief and equity, while other areas face significant constraints despite high cooling needs.

CanopyFit has found that approximately half of Kelowna's new-canopy potential is concentrated in roughly 20% of its highest-opportunity planting sites. This suggests that cities can maximize their limited budgets by targeting areas where cooling benefits and planting opportunities align. The tool also uses satellite imagery and machine learning to improve the resolution of heat maps from 30 meters to 10 meters, enabling planners to pinpoint exact locations for cooling interventions.

An increase of 10% in tree canopy is associated with a decrease of about 1°C in the mean radiant temperature, which is the heat people feel from their surroundings. This research, published in the journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, highlights the importance of urban forests in climate adaptation. As cities move faster than academic publishing, CanopyFit is developed to meet municipal timelines and tested against real planning decisions.

The tool's core methodology is reproducible, and its integration with Diamond Head Consulting's spatial forecasting tools in Vancouver demonstrates the value of research and practice working together.