Case Study: City of Cincinnati improves urban tree canopy analysis and land cover mapping with AppGeo

Lidar-based Hotspot Area / Tree Canopy Coverage Gap Analysis

AppGeo worked with the City of Cincinnati’s Cincinnati Area Geographic Information System (CAGIS) to update its urban tree canopy gap analysis and improve land cover mapping across the city and Hamilton County. The team needed to understand where tree canopy was being gained or lost and to better identify impervious surfaces, supporting planning around climate resilience, heat stress, stormwater, and environmental justice.

Using quality level 1 leaf-on LiDAR data combined with aerial imagery, AppGeo helped deliver detailed land cover classifications and canopy analysis, including tree counts and tree-level attributes such as crown size and diameter. The project produced precise maps of canopy gain, loss, and no change, an impervious surface layer, and other planning outputs that supported stormwater runoff analysis, erosion projection, air quality work, and targeted tree planting priorities.

City of Cincinnati

Crystal Courtney

Division Manager – Natural Resources