Change Analysis of Urban Tree Canopy in Miami-Dade County

Abstract

This study mapped and analyzed urban tree canopy change between 2014 and 2019 within the Urban Development Boundary of Miami-Dade County, Florida. The goal was to identify local areas of tree canopy gain or loss over this 5-year period. The comparison is based on land cover maps delineated from WorldView-2 satellite data applying a random forest classification algorithm, in combination with publicly available vector data of infrastructure (roads, railroads) and land use maps (water, cropland). Existing urban tree canopy (EUTC) was computed for census block groups and municipalities to compare tree canopy cover loss or gain to support strategic planning of equitable urban reforestation. For the entire study area, the percentage of EUTC did not change significantly between 2014 (19.9 ± 1.2%) and 2019 (20.1 ± 1.5%). However, some municipalities experienced changes in EUTC by over 10%. Comparison of Landsat-8 Thermal Infrared satellite imagery between both periods identified land cover change patterns that were associated with an increase or decrease in surface temperature. A significantly negative relationship between percentage of African American population and tree canopy in 2014 turned statistically insignificant in 2019, whereas the negative relationship with percentage of Hispanic population further strengthened in 2019 compared to 2014.

Greening the Urban Landscape: Assessing the Impact of Tree-Planting Initiatives and Climate Influences on Miami-Dade County’s Greenness

“…Furthermore, earlier research delved into tree cover changes from 2003 to 2009, revealing a concerning 1.7% decrease in tree cover for Miami over this 6-year period [18]. Additionally, a more recent investigation explored variations in Miami-Dade's tree canopy from 2016 to 2020, ultimately finding no significant alteration in the overall tree canopy percentage within the county during this 4-year period [55]. These findings offer a temporal perspective on Miami's greenery, contributing to our understanding of trends leading up to and following our study period.…”