Tree Folio NYC Aims to Monitor Urban Forest in Real Time

Writing in Yahoo News, Willy Appelman describes how New York City is using data collection and advanced technology to monitor its tree canopy and assess when and where new trees should be planted to supplement the city’s urban forest.

A project called Tree Folio NYC uses lidar data to “measure the size and volume of individual canopies, making it easier to see where healthy trees are located and where existing canopies are lacking,” according to Cornell University researcher Alexander Kobald.

The tool could help the city keep a closer eye on its trees, which have a lifespan almost ten times as short as a similar tree in a rural environment due to exposure to pollutants like dog urine and salt from street treatments.

Appelman notes that “New York City recently passed measures aiming for 30% tree canopy cover by 2035, intending to plant up to 250,000 new trees.”