1. Neighborhood Planning Area
Tree Planting in Austin, Texas:
An Analysis of the Austin Community Tree Program
Introduction
Methodology
Task 2 – Carbon Sequestration and Energy Conservation:
Total lbs. of CO2 sequestered = 173,034 lbs.
Equal to 8.65 tons/yr
Total kWh of conserved energy = 68,657 kWh
Equal to 6,866 kWh/yr
The sample map of the Crestview neighborhood portrays assigned CO2 values. The sample map of the Coronado Hills neighborhood portrays assigned conserved energy values.
Task 3 – Extrapolation:
The values shown represent the projected extent of canopy contributed by ACT Program trees.
Conclusion
As Austin grows, so does the threat that UHI island effects pose to its residents. With this study, Green City GeoTech has evaluated the effectiveness of the ACT Program based on the three accomplished tasks. ACT trees provided a 16.5% canopy growth from 2006 to 2010, 173,034 lbs. of sequestered carbon, and 68,657 kWh of conserved energy. Based on our extrapolation method, ACT trees are currently providing 1.4 acres of canopy cover and will exceed to 2.43 acres by With this study, Green City GeoTech provides information that helps the City of Austin Forestry Division to make important decisions about its urban forestry efforts.
Data and Software
Methods
Canopy growth :
[(total canopy gain – total canopy loss) / 2006 canopy area] * 100
Carbon sequestration and energy conservation:
Total lbs. or kWh/tree/yr. (NTBC) * total trees at address = total carbon or energy/address/yr.
Total lbs. or kWh/address/yr * (years in ground + 1) = total carbon or energy/address from
Extrapolation to 2015 and 2025, assuming 1 ft2/yr:
Years in ground + 1 = years to 2015; years in ground + 11 = years to 2025
Years to 2015 * 1 ft2 = 2015 canopy extent; years to 2025 * 1 ft2 = 2025 canopy extent (converted to acres)
Background
Many communities have implemented various strategies to reduce urban heat islands, one of which is increasing urban tree canopy. Scientific analysis has shown that trees cool their environment through evapotranspiration and by providing shade, blocking heat-carrying winds, and reducing air pollution. The Austin Community Tree (ACT) Program seeks to mitigate urban heat island effects by distributing young trees to residents of chosen neighborhoods. Residents plant the trees on their property and maintain them, thereby substantially increasing urban tree canopy and ultimately increasing energy conservation and the sequestration of carbons that would otherwise pollute the air.
Purpose
Green City GeoTech was assigned to evaluate the effectiveness of the Austin Community Tree Program for the City of Austin. Our objectives consisted of three
analytical tasks and the design and composition of a map book.
Task 1: To create an overlay that compares the locations where ACT Program trees were delivered and canopy growth by neighborhood, expressed as a percentage
Task 2: To calculate the total electrical energy conserved (kWh) and total CO2 sequestered (lbs.) from 2006 to 2015 using the National Tree Benefit Calculator (NTBC)
Task 3: To extrapolate tree canopy growth to 2015 and 2025 and express the total canopy gain in acres 
Scope
The study area of this project is limited to the 14 neighborhoods where ACT Program delivered trees.
ACT Program deliveries (to 2014)
Canopy cover 2006 and 2010 vector files
Neighborhood Planning Area boundaries
Change in canopy
ArcMap 10.3
NTBC
Results
Neighborhood Planning Area
Canopy Extent 2015 (acres)
Canopy Extent 2025 (acres)
Coronado Hills
0.08
0.16
Crestview
0.17
0.26
East Cesar Chavez
0.07
0.12
East Congress
0.10
Franklin Park
0.13
0.24
McKinney
0.06
0.11
Montopolis
0.19
0.33
North Austin Civic Association
0.34
Old West Austin
Rosewood
0.09
0.15
St. John
0.02
0.03
Sweetbriar
West Congress
0.20
Wooten
Totals:
1.40
2.43
Task 1 – Canopy Growth:
Using canopy cover data from 2006 and 2010, we found the total growth and reduction within individual neighborhood planning areas and over the entire study area. The analysis showed 16.5% overall tree canopy growth from 2006 to The sample map of the North Austin Civic Association neighborhood overlays tree canopy growth and tree delivery locations for comparison.
Project Manager/GIS Analyst: Brietta Perez
Assistant Project Manager/GIS Analyst: Mujahid Hussein
GIS Analyst: Jeffrey Cuevas
GIS Analyst: Nick Waters 
Acknowledgements
Austin Community Tree Program: Alan Halter, Margaret Valenti, Forestry Division, City of Austin
Instructor: Dr. Yihong Yuan
Lab Instructor: David Szpakowski