Tree Inventory vs. Tree Canopy Assessment

The distinction between tree inventories and tree canopy assessments can sometimes be confusing. Both are tools for collecting comprehensive information about an urban forest. However, the insights they offer are very different.

Tree inventories are a bottom-up strategy that maps the location and records the condition of trees in a defined area.

A tree canopy assessment is a top-down approach that uses satellite imagery to map out the coverage of tree canopies over a defined area.

This infographic will give you a foundational understanding of both tools as well as similarities and differences.