Google Tree Canopy – The Future Of Green

Almost everyone has heard of the expression, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now” The debate over planting more and more trees in cities is witnessing rapid growth as officials and friends seem to cast a shadow over the hot highways of the region. Extreme temperatures are becoming more prominent in cities where temperatures and infrastructure are producing heat islands. There are areas where high temperatures are observed, contributing to air quality, water shortages, and other issues regarding public health. Trees are seen as a solution to both reducing road surface temperatures quickly while improving the quality of life. However, many cities do not have the budget or money to find out where each tree is in the region, or where the greatest need is for new tree planting efforts. We are integrating AI and aerial imagery through our new Tree Canopy Lab to help cities view their current tree canopy coverage and prepare for potential tree planting, beginning in Los Angeles. It’s going to be from the area. 

You can see Los Angeles trees from a local perspective with the Tree Canopy Lab, such as what percentage of the leaves of a community are protected, the population density of an area, which areas are the hottest, and which neighborhood councils can help to get new roots in the soil. The Tree Canopy Lab is part of our Environmental Insights Explorer platform, an instrument that makes tracking, preparing, and minimizing carbon emissions and pollution easier for cities. In its contribution to helping hundreds of local governments fight climate change, it is also a step forward step.

Mapping Tree Cover To Seed New Initiatives In Urban Forestry

With the spring, summer, and autumn seasons, as well as the data analysis capabilities of Google AI and Google Earth engine and aerial imagery obtained from aircraft, we can now classify and identify all the trees in an area. Density can be calculated. For these measurements, the photos we use involve color pictures that closely reflect how we see the city from the sky. The surrounding infrared images show colors and nuances that the human eye can not equate to images from various angles in order to map altitude in order to gain more precise knowledge about the city’s canopy cover. Then we use an AI detection tree that automatically analyses the images, determines the appearance of trees, and then generates a map that shows the density of the tree cover. The “tree canopy” is often referred to as. The city of Los Angeles does not have to rely on costly and timely tree studies with this method, which could include surveys of tree blocks, old records, or outdated studies that only count trees in public places.

From policymakers to neighbors, at the Canopy Lab, everyone can find Los Angeles and gain insight. A laboratory, for example, can assist anyone with the opportunity to plant as many trees as possible to identify residential blocks and find sidewalks exposed to elevated temperatures due to poor coverage of the canopy. We notice that through the Tree Canopy Lab, more than 50 percent of Angelinos live in regions with less than 10 percent tree roof coverage, and 44 percent of Angelinos live in areas exposed to extreme heat. We also see a correlation suggesting that in certain areas of Los Angeles, the lowest likelihood of heat, as well as the highest coverage of the tree roof are.

Connecting Cities With New Knowledge About The Climate

Using forests not only promotes environmental targets in Los Angeles communities, but also strengthens neighborhoods, increases air quality, and reduces street surface temperatures as cities are at the forefront of climate change. Because of the transition, the area is colder. With a closer target of planting and sustaining 90,000 trees by 2021 and planting trees throughout the city over 503 square miles at a pace of 20,000 each year, the Tree Canopy Lab has already reached out to people in the city. They all have access to the bird’s eye view of where the city’s current trees are and which places need more greenery, from residents and neighborhood groups to Mayor Eric Garcetti and Rachel Malaraich, the town’s first-ever forest officer.

For communities affected by rising temperatures and the severity of heatwaves, each tree we plant will help stem the tide of the climate crisis and as we grow our urban forests. We should plant the seeds of a future that is healthier, more sustainable, and equal. Google technology can help us bring the power of trees to entire homes and households in Los Angeles – bringing green to our public spaces for beauty.