But many studies of the benefits of trees generally consider just one dimension of well-being, such as urban cooling, shade amenity, or access to green spaces.
In new research using Singapore as a model, environmental social scientist Dr Peter Edwards and colleagues have brought together a large and varied dataset to better understand the benefits and impacts of trees in urban areas. The work proposes an alternative “environment-well-being analysis framework” for urban green spaces, integrating remote sensing, ecology, and social science measures at a range of scales, from the entire urban area to a zoomed-in residential block. It combines several well-being measures including proximity to green spaces, experience of green spaces, visual exposure, and noise exposure.
To create the framework, land-use and tree cover data for Singapore were sourced from Sentinel satellite imagery and from street and planning maps, including networks of trees maintained by Singapore’s National Parks Board. Cellphone data were used to track visits to green spaces, Singaporean census data provided socioeconomic statistics, and an acoustic modelling program was used to map likely patterns of traffic and ambient noise. This program could outline the effects on noise levels of layering tree species of different sizes, canopy heights and shapes, and distance from roads or housing blocks.
“This compendium of seemingly unrelated work highlights the critical role that urban trees and green spaces play in enhancing human well-being,” says Peter.
At the city scale, Singaporeans are highly mobile thanks to a great public transport system, and are frequent visitors to green spaces and parks no matter how close they live to them, underscoring the importance of green spaces to well-being.
“Our modelling at the very local scale showed that strategically placed trees can significantly reduce environmental noise levels, with layered greenery providing the best results.”
The work has implications for urban planning, especially in densely populated areas where noise pollution may pose a significant threat to public health. It also highlights the importance of adopting a holistic approach to urban development, where all the potential benefits of layered, carefully located tree plantings are recognised and integrated into city planning.
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