Methodology for Spatial Analysis of Municipal Street Tree Benefits

Abstract

Street trees comprise a fraction of the urban forest; however, due to their public function, the benefits they provide to urban residents have received particular attention from researchers. Spatial analyses of street tree benefits have been based on street tree counts that do not account for differences in tree species and size that in turn impact leaf surface area from which most benefits are derived. The United States Forest Service’s i-Tree Streets software program quantifies street tree benefits and does account for differences in tree species and size, but is not a Geographic Information Systems program and does not facilitate the spatial analysis of street tree benefits. This paper proposes a methodology for analyzing the spatial distribution of street tree benefits employing measures based on i-Tree Streets. Providence, Rhode Island, U.S., serves as a case study.