Using satellite data to estimate Urban leaf area index

Abstract

The social value of the urban forest to local urban populations has long been recognized. In contrast, the impact of the urban forest on global and local environments is not clearly understood, and the impact of urban trees on carbon sequestration, mitigation of urban heat, and removal of pollution remain topics of contemporary scientific study. Land cover conversion in urban areas is typically faster than in wildland areas, thus there is a need for rapid measurement methods of urban biophysical variables that are repeatable and economically efficient. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.