Urban Tree Cover Monitoring: Towards Environmental Equity and Sustainability, Bhartendu Pandey, Post Doc (3963713)

Urban tree cover is important for human health, wellbeing, and environmental sustainability. However, we have a limited understanding of tree cover distributions and dynamics, and their social and environmental implications, across cities. In this ongoing study, we develop and apply a machine learning framework to satellite remote sensing data towards mapping and monitoring of tree canopy cover, using the case of the city of Pune, India. Preliminary results suggest that machine learning can help us understand, and potentially monitor, tree cover distributions. Results show significant inequalities in tree cover distributions in our study site, with a Gini Index of up to 0.52. Our preliminary findings emphasize the importance of understanding trees in cities, towards environmental equity.