UBC Undergraduate Research

Modelling urban forest structure and services using the urban forest effects (UFORE) model Langley, Benjamin

Abstract

Urban forests offer a variety of services, values and benefits to communities. Urban forest resource values include air quality improvements, carbon storage and sequestration, increased property values, energy savings for homeowners and a variety of environmental services. Effective urban forest management for these services and values requires at the very least an understanding of the structure, composition and state of urban forests. The Urban Forest Effects (UFORE) model uses urban forest inventories or sampling data to quantify urban forest structure. The forest structure data is then used to estimate pollution removal, carbon sequestration, pollen allergy ratings, and the effects of shading on building energy use within the urban forest. This paper outlines the UFORE model and its applications for urban forest managers and then discusses a series of recommendations. These include; the incorporation of additional output values in an expansion of the UFORE model; use of new technology to increase accuracy, efficiency and decrease cost of input data collection processes; and potential application of the UFORE model in Canadian cities.

Item Citations and Data

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International