Inventory and Valuation of Shade Trees in Kingston, Pennsylvania using CityGreen

1. Inventory and Valuation of Shade Trees in Kingston, Pennsylvania using CityGreen Nina Sweppenheiser Kenneth M. Klemow Biology Department Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA

2. Forests have functions and values • Reduce stormwater runoff • Reduce pollution • Sequester carbon dioxide • Wildlife habitat

3. Urban areas often replace forest • Impervious surface increases stormwater runoff • More pollution in the air • Poor habitat for wildlife • Higher costs of heating and cooling

4. Many cities benefit from planting trees • Reduce air pollution • Ameliorate stormwater runoff • Conserve energy • Reduce heating and cooling

7. Commercial vs. Residential One might expect that population of trees along commercial street would be less dense and have smaller individuals than along residential street

8. Questions Posed • Is there a difference in density between street tree populations on commercial and residential streets? • Is there a difference in size between street tree populations on commercial and residential streets? • Is there any difference in the economic value that the street trees provide?

9. Methods • Study carried out in Kingston, PA • Has well-established street tree program

10. Methods • Trees examined along two streets: • Market St. (Commercial) • Atherton St. (Residential) • Location-based parameters recorded: • Street address • Distance from reference point • Latitude and longitude

11. Methods • Size-based Parameters • Diameter at breast height • Tree height • Canopy width and height to canopy • Data analysis • Histograms • t-test

12. Methods • Data entered into ArcView GIS • Valuation assessment performed by CityGreen module on GIS

13. Results - Tree Density

14. Tree Height

15. Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) Data given in cm

16. Crown Area Data given in cm3

17. Summary of Size Data

18. CityGreen Valuation • By using computer modeling, it is possible to determine economic value the trees provide • We did a preliminary analysis using CityGreen for Market St. and Atherton St.

19. Air Pollution Value for Kingston Trees

20. Economic Benefit Summary Differences in Saving • Market St. was longer; more trees • Assumed commercial streets had higher impervious surface; trees valued more • Future use of better satellite images may provide a more accurate picture

21. Conclusions • As expected, residential trees were denser and taller • Not expected was the lack of difference for DBH and canopy coverage • Completely unexpected was the much higher value for the commercial trees

22. Future Work • Sample additional residential and commercial streets to get better replication • Incorporate species identifications • Revisit CityGreen valuation to ensure accuracy

23. Acknowledgements • Vincent Cotrone - PSU Extension • Wilkes faculty: • Dr. William Toothill • Dr. Marleen Troy • Elizabeth Roveda - former student • Wilkes students • Joseph Mahon • Kyle Ungvarsky