Urban Tree Canopy Assessments: The Benefits of Trees

Jul 9, 2020

The PlanIT Geo™ Geospatial Mapping Services team is passionate about the importance of a quality urban tree canopy assessment.

In this blog series,  learn more about the process, why you need one, and how an urban tree canopy assessment will benefit the community.

Part 2: The Benefits of Trees

Remember when you used to climb on your favorite tree as a kid, found that great fishing spot next to a big tree, looked for that parking spot shaded by a tree, or took a walk through a forest and felt calmer and refreshed on the other side? These are just some of the benefits that trees provide.

Trees have many more benefits including increasing property value, aesthetics, crime reduction, traffic calming, improved bike/pedestrian transportation, and climate change resilience.

Urban Heat Island Mitigation

Trees lower temperatures by shading buildings, asphalt, and concrete, reducing the urban heat island effect and improving living conditions and human health.

Human Health

Trees have been shown to improve human health by absorbing harmful air pollutants, providing access to nature, and lowering stress levels.

Energy Conservation

Trees can insulate buildings from extreme temperatures and winds, keep properties cool, and reduce air conditioning and heating utility bills.

Trees throughout the world face many threats, but trees in an urban environment are especially vulnerable.

Water Quality and Stormwater Absorption

Trees provide a range of water quality and stormwater management benefits including protecting watershed health, drinking water supplies, and property. These mitigating functions are performed through rainfall interception, transpiration (water to gas), infiltration (water absorbed by the soil), and phytoremediation (cleaning of soil, air, and water).

Environmental Equity

Increasing tree canopy in lower-income neighborhoods can decrease summer temperatures, expand recreation opportunities, and improve physical and mental health. Learn more in this case study from Baltimore, Maryland.

Read parts 3 and 4 of this blog series to learn how an urban tree canopy assessment will help you understand and manage this critical resource.

Blog Series: Urban Tree Canopy Assessments

Part 1: Why Do Trees Matter?

Part 2: The Benefits of Trees

Part 3: What Is An Urban Tree Canopy Assessment?

Part 4: What Will I Get Out Of An Urban Tree Canopy Assessment?

View our interactive Urban Tree Canopy Assessments Story Map and learn how our Geospatial Mapping Services team can support your community forestry goals.

Related Resources

Blog

Part 3, Urban Tree Canopy Assessments Blog Series: What is an urban tree canopy assessment?

Screenshot of PlanIT Geo urban forestry software TreePlotter CANOPY

TreePlotter™ CANOPY

View, Plan, and Grow your urban forest with Treeplotter™ CANOPY. Visualize your tree canopy and land cover dataset in an approachable and easy-to-use analysis platform.

Tree Canopy Virtual Data Summit Webinar from PlanIT Geo™

Geospatial Mapping Services

PlanIT Geo™ is an industry leader in urban tree canopy assessments, green infrastructure mapping, and web-mapping applications. We provide personalized services to communities of all sizes, federal, state, and local government organizations, and even private landowners.

Urban Tree Canopy Assessment

The King County tree canopy assessment (TCA) analyzed urban tree canopy (UTC), possible planting areas (PPA), and the relationships between tree canopy and various environmental, socioeconomic, and demographic factors for 15 cities in King County, WA.

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Join Our Newsletter

Stay informed on the urban forestry industry with our monthly TREEbune newsletter, live webinars, and industry-specific content delivered to your inbox.

Urban Forestry Webinars

PlanIT Geo has a substantial on-demand webinar library. Get CEU credits, grow your knowledge base, and stay current on cutting edge industry technology.

Follow Us

We love to share industry-related news, software tutorials, blogs, and company news across our social channels.