As part of the Trager MicroForest Project, we have been collecting a wide array of data in order to constantly assess the changes occurring at the project site. Prior to and during construction, our friends at Qk4 walked through the site while wearing a mobile SLAM device. These devices are a type of LiDAR scanner that emit laser pulses to create a 3D model of the world around them. They typically send out thousands of these lasers every second while in use, creating a cloud of points that can be used for a variety of scientific assessments.
Often, canopy coverage is measured through aerial and satellite data; this gives you a pretty accurate picture of the amount of greenery over large areas, but LiDAR’s 3D datasets allow you to measure even very small changes to the characteristics of vegetation. The planting of the Trager MicroForest introduced hundreds of new trees and shrubs into a small park space, only .65 acres, drastically increasing the total amount of biomass. LiDAR data collected over time allow us to assess the changes in total volume of vegetation within the Trager MicroForest as it establishes and grows.
The data itself has a wide array of potential applications. It can be used for scientific purposes, measuring changes to canopy volume, total leaf area, tree height, and so on. This will allow researchers to create models from the data that show how effective the vegetation is at cooling the local microclimate (possibly pairing with the meteorological data we have been collecting), how much air pollution the trees are absorbing, how much stormwater runoff is being absorbed, monitoring growth rates of different species, among other applications. This data can also be utilized for maintenance purposes as well, identifying dead wood or where trees may need trimming.
For the Trager MicroForest Project, we have collected two LiDAR datasets so far. One prior to construction in January 2023 and one during construction in September 2024. More LiDAR scans will occur as the new forest gets established. In addition to the scientific and maintenance uses, the data also creates fascinating visuals of how the space is changing over time.
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