Bluesky National Tree Map at the Root of Birmingham’s Urban Forest Master Plan
Leicestershire, UK, 07 September 2021 – An extract from a map that details the location and attributes of more than 300 million trees is being used to create the UK’s first Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP). A partnership led by Birmingham City Council is looking at data from multiple sources, including the Bluesky National Tree Map, to take a long-term strategic approach to urban forest management and future-proof its treescapes. Containing a consistent, action-based strategy, the Plan has been formulated with input from stakeholders across the city including the business community and residents.
Derived from high-resolution aerial photography and height data, the Bluesky National Tree Map accurately records the location, height and canopy for trees over 3 metres in height - regardless of location or ownership. This insight is providing the intelligence required to benchmark current levels and will enable the measurement and reporting of performance indicators as the UFMP is delivered.
“The difference between a Tree Strategy and a Master Plan is that the Plan, just like Ecosystem Services, looks at the whole range of benefits and functions, so, our Urban Forest Plan goes way beyond ‘just trees’,” commented Simon Needle, Principle Arboriculturist at Birmingham City Council. “The Plan considers the whole tree population, not just public owned trees, engages all stakeholders, and encompasses a wide range of challenges and opportunities to contribute to a shared vision.
“The Bluesky data is an integral part of this,” he continued. “Using the National Tree Map, we can record our starting point and monitor our progress as we work towards equitable tree cover across the city. We can also bring together additional data to inform action on rising population pressures, inequality, climate change and pollution.”
A two-time winner of the United Nations Tree City of the World, Birmingham has more parks than any other city on the continent and an estimated 1 million trees. Of these around a quarter are in private ownership and, of the trees under Council management, there are more than 100,000 individually plotted non-highway trees, 75,000 trees on the highway and around 600,000 trees within woodlands. However, Birmingham, the largest municipality in Europe with a rising population, has a significant number of wards in the top ten percentile for deprivation and high levels of premature mortality. Birmingham is also facing the global challenges of air pollution, rising urban temperatures and flooding.
The Birmingham Urban Forest Master Plan is the result of a partnership between Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Tree people, working with the Nature Based Solutions Institute in Barcelona and social enterprise organisation Treeconomics.
CONTACTS:
Laura Eddy – Marketing Co-ordinator, Bluesky, Tel: +44 (0) 1530 518518, laura.eddy@bluesky-world.com
Robert Peel – Editorial Contact, Spatially Aware, Tel: +44 (0) 1666 823306, robert@spatiallyaware.co.uk
https://www.bluesky-world.com/
About Bluesky and the National Tree Map
Bluesky’s National Tree Map is created using innovative algorithms and image processing techniques in combination with the most up to date and detailed aerial photography. In addition to the three vector map layers; Crown Polygons, Idealised Crowns and Height Points, the Bluesky National Tree Map also includes an attribute table including unique identification for each crown feature, height attributes and area calculations. The data is available in a range of formats for use in GIS, CAD and online mapping tools.
Bluesky International is the leading aerial survey and geographic data company in the UK producing and maintaining seamless digital aerial photography and height data on a national scale in both Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Bluesky also undertakes bespoke surveys, including LiDAR, for a range of public and private sector clients.
Bluesky International operates a range of aircraft and sensors including three Ultracam Eagle Mark 3s, a CityMapper which allows the simultaneous collection of vertical and oblique imagery as well as LiDAR data, and a Galaxy LiDAR which is mounted with a thermal sensor and survey grade camera. These systems put Bluesky International in the enviable position of being able to provide customers with unique and cost-effective geospatial solutions.
As well as being an established and respected aerial survey company Bluesky International is also highly innovative and continually strives to develop new products and services by embracing new technology and methods. This has resulted in the development of some unique products such as the National Tree Map (NTM).
These datasets underpin long term contracts with local and central governments and many major blue-chip companies from a range of market sectors including financial services, utilities, telecoms, web portals, construction and environment. Bluesky International has offices in the UK, US, Republic of Ireland and a dedicated production centre in India.