Data_sources_and_tools.Rmd

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## Tree data sources and tools

### i-Tree

[i-Tree](itreetools.org) is a collection of tools from the US Forest
service. They are primarily focused on the economic value of trees.
i-Tree Landscape and i-Tree Canopy have tools which help with evaluating
tree cover and planning new plantings.

#### OurTrees

[OurTrees](https://ourtrees.itreetools.org/#/) is a tool for assessing
tree canopy. It gives summary statistics only.

For Northampton, OurTrees estimates 58.68% tree canopy on 12,859 acres
and 8.61% impervious surfaces over 1,888 acres. The estimate seems to be
based on the same data as used by i-Tree Landscape.

#### i-Tree Landscape

[i-Tree Landscape](https://landscape.itreetools.org/) helps you explore
tree canopy, land cover, and demographic information in your community.
Identify priority planting & protection areas for climate & social
issues by census block group. The most recent available data is from
2011.

This tool can be used to interactively look at land cover types on a
map, or to create a report. A sample report can be viewed
[here](Reports/i-Tree%20Landscape%20Report.pdf).

#### i-Tree Canopy

[i-Tree Canopy](https://canopy.itreetools.org/) helps you estimate land
cover and tree canopy plus benefits using random point sampling on
aerial imagery.

Use this tool to classify land and tree cover across a given area using
random sampling of aerial imagery. This tool works by selecting random
points within an area of interest. The user looks at an aerial image at
that point and classifies the ground cover at the location. By
classifying many (500-1000) points, an estimate of overall ground cover
can be calculated.

#### i-Tree data sources

Tree cover, impervious surface and land cover estimates are derived
directly from 2011 National Land Cover Data (NLCD). These data estimate
coverage using satellite data with a 30 meter resolution
([www.mrlc.gov](http://www.mrlc.gov/)). It is believed, based on
preliminary tests, that the 2011 tree cover maps underestimate tree
cover. Therefore, the tree cover maps are likely conservative in
estimating tree cover as well as ecosystem services, which are derived
from tree cover.

See <https://landscape.itreetools.org/references/maps/> and
<https://landscape.itreetools.org/references/data/>.

### Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) Consortium

[MRLC](https://www.mrlc.gov/) is a group of federal agencies who coordinate and generate
consistent and relevant land cover information at the national scale for
a wide variety of environmental, land management, and modeling
applications.

MRLC is the source of the National Land Cover Data (NLCD) used by
i-Tree. 
Level II & I Overall accuracy (OA) of NLCD2016 land cover (LC) was 86.4% & 90.6%.

MRLC has its own NLCD viewer at <https://www.mrlc.gov/viewer/> and other
tools at <https://www.mrlc.gov/tools>

The MRLC NLCD Enhanced Visualization and Analysis (EVA) Tool provides
users with detailed county statistics for any two NLCD landcover dates
to support quick and powerful change analyses.

This tool shows changes in land cover at the county level. For example,
this map shows changes in forest cover from 2001 to 2019:
<https://www.mrlc.gov/eva/?c=25015&fr=2001&r=county&s=25&t=3&to=2019>
The associated report says that 4.87 square miles of forest cover were
lost in this period.

### ESA WorldCover

https://esa-worldcover.org/en

Land cover data at 10m resolution. Data for 2020 and 2021. 
Due to changes in the analysis algorithm, the two data sets are not
entirely comparable. The docs say, 
"most changes between both maps are due to changes in the used algorithms."

Does not show roads as "Built up" ! Overall accuracy for North America
is 74.6 +/- 1.2.

### Copernicus Global Land Cover

https://lcviewer.vito.be/about

Global land cover at 100m resolution. Data for 2015-2019.

### MassGIS

-   LIDAR data
    <https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massgis-data-lidar-terrain-data>
    \### TreeKeeper

### US Forest Service