Many municipalities today are setting ambitious goals to increase their tree cover and expand their urban canopy. In response to climate, environmental, and social challenges, urban trees play a crucial role: they improve air quality, reduce urban heat islands, promote biodiversity, and contribute to sustainable stormwater management.
For example, city of Toronto has set an ambitious goal: increase its urban tree canopy to 40% by 2050. As of 2018, the city's tree coverage stood at approximately 30%, meaning millions of new trees will need to be planted over the coming decades.
To bridge this gap, the city aims to plant 120,000 trees annually. But with 630 km² of territory and over 5,600 km of road networks, where exactly should all these trees be planted? 🤔🌳
Between public and private land, site availability, technical constraints, and environmental needs, identifying optimal planting locations can quickly become a complex puzzle. When done traditionally, this process can be time-consuming, costly, and inefficient.
Fortunately, advancements in 3D mapping and geospatial intelligence now provide efficient solutions to streamline urban greening initiatives.
By analyzing its digital twin, Jakarto provides advanced mapping tools that allow municipalities to precisely identify areas suitable for new tree planting, considering several key criteria:
✔️ Soil Classification: Jakarto offers highly detailed classifications of permeable soil zones within the territory.
✔️ Aerial Space Constraints: Jakarto has developed an index that characterizes aerial space congestion across the territory. This index considers the location of overhead networks, buildings, and existing vegetation to identify areas where the aerial space is free from constraints.
✔️ Presence of Underground Networks: When this data layer is available, Jakarto can integrate underground network locations to eliminate areas where tree planting is not feasible.
By cross-referencing this information, Jakarto generates a planting site map that quantifies the available surface area and assesses the intensity of observed constraints for each site. Just like the aerial space congestion index, planting sites are identified for different tree sizes (small, medium, and large) to reflect the fact that, in a given territory, it is generally easier to plant small-canopy trees than large-canopy ones.
One of the strengths of geospatial data is its ability to integrate multiple information sources, allowing decision-makers to prioritize planting sites.
The planting site map can be cross-referenced with local canopy index data, tree inventories, or other relevant data sources such as population vulnerability to heat waves or soil types.
This information enables land managers to optimize their planting operations and maximize the impact of their initiatives by targeting strategic areas:
✔️ Identifying under-vegetated areas: Visualize the current canopy distribution to prioritize neighborhoods with low tree coverage.
✔️ Considering technical constraints: Assess the potential of each planting site using the Jakartowns platform and dedicated tools.
✔️ Factoring in socio-economic and environmental criteria: Ensure that urban greening efforts align with broader community and sustainability goals.
✔️ Environmental benefits: Maximize the impact of each tree by targeting strategic zones to mitigate urban heat islands, improve air quality, and enhance stormwater absorption.
Planning canopy expansion without technological tools can be costly and inefficient.
With digital twin and artificial intelligence solutions, municipalities gain a complete and detailed digital view of their territory, allowing them to:
📌 Quickly analyze the current state of tree cover across vast areas like the CMM.
📌 Prioritize planting locations while considering urban constraints and maximizing environmental benefits.
📌 Georeference future plantings to ensure effective tracking and optimized management.
📌 Reduce analysis time and costs by leveraging advanced technologies and AI-driven algorithms.
Urban reforestation initiatives are multiplying across the country, but their success depends on efficient planning and reliable data. With the right tools, municipalities can turn a complex process into a streamlined and cost-effective strategy.
Jakarto enables cities to map, analyze, and plan their urban greening initiatives with precision, ensuring data-driven and sustainable decisions.
🌿 Is your city aiming to increase its tree canopy? Follow the movement! 🌳Discover concrete Initiative...
Across Canada, many municipalities and organizations are actively working to expand their urban forests. These initiatives reflect a strong commitment to sustainable planning and enhanced climate resilience in our cities.
📍 Toronto – Aiming for 40% Urban Canopy by 2050 🌳🏙️ Toronto is committed to expanding its tree canopy to cover 40% of the city by 2050, up from 30% in 2018. To reach this ambitious goal, the city plans to plant approximately 120,000 trees per year, reinforcing its dedication to climate resilience, biodiversity, and improved urban living conditions. Read more
📍 Greater Montreal – Ambitious Plan to Reach 30% Urban Canopy 🌳🏙️ The Greater Montreal region has launched an ambitious initiative to expand its urban canopy to 30% by 2030, reinforcing its commitment to climate resilience and biodiversity. As part of the Plan Arbre, 300,000 trees and shrubs will be planted on private lands between 2020 and 2030, contributing to cooling urban areas, improving air quality, and enhancing green spaces for residents. Read more
📍 Calgary – Major Agreement to Expand Urban Canopy 🌳🤝 The City of Calgary and the Government of Canada have signed an agreement under the 2 Billion Trees Program, aiming to significantly expand the city's urban canopy. This partnership will see Calgary receive funding to plant thousands of new trees, reinforcing its commitment to climate resilience, biodiversity, and urban greening. Read more
💡 These initiatives highlight growing municipal commitment to tree preservation and expansion. With digital twins and tree inventories, these efforts can be optimized for efficient, strategic, and long-term urban greening. 🌳
Thanks to advances in 3D mapping and geospatial intelligence, municipalities now have powerful tools to better understand, maintain, and expand their urban tree heritage.
By integrating these technologies, cities are taking a proactive and sustainable approach to maximizing urban forest benefits. 🌿📊
🚀 With Jakarto, build a greener, more resilient, and more sustainable city!
📩 Contact us to learn more about our tree and canopy inventory solutions