Google’s Tree Canopy Lab

As technology has become an integral part of our life, Google is trying to use it in an innovative way to prove beneficial to our environment. After all we all reside here and we depend on the surrounding nature for survival.

If you pull out a picture from an old album, you’ll be amazed to see how the landscape has changed. Now wherever you go the unadulterated beauty is gone and is dominated by concrete jungles. This transformation in the past few decades have led to a rise in temperature due to lack of effective shade.

Extreme temperature, poor air quality and other environmental issues have a direct effect on us and the solution lies in trees. Hence to encourage a green environment and meet the resources of humankind, the Californian company is introducing Tree Canopy Lab where AI and aerial imagery will be combined to help cities see their current tree canopy coverage and plan future tree planting projects.

Kick starting the program from Los Angeles, with Tree Canopy Lab you can see the city’s trees with local context, like what percentage of a neighborhood has leafy cover, an area’s population density, what areas are vulnerable to extreme heat, and which neighborhood councils can help get new roots in the ground.

A step to help the local government, Google’s new tool is committed to measure, plan and reduce carbon emissions and pollution in a city.

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” 🌳

See how we're helping @LACity track tree canopy coverage and plan future tree planting projects with Environmental Insights Explorer's new Tree Canopy Lab → https://t.co/mEV3Mf1APB pic.twitter.com/CPRU63Nyg8

— Google (@Google) November 18, 2020

The new tool will soon be rolled out across the world and Google has currently invited local policymakers and city planners to contribute more to their initiative.