A method to classify the permeability of tree canopies

Abstract

This article presents a new way of organizing information and knowledge on trees for environmental comfort, setting actions to classify the permeability of their canopies. It aims to give support to professionals and researchers of the field through the calculation of the soil coverage percentage that the shade of canopies provides to urban hydrothermal comfort. Its relevance relies on considering that the percentage of light that passes between the leaves corresponds to the percentage of reduction of solar radiation that directly reflects upon the canopy. The method was developed at PROARQ-FAU-UFRJ and has been tested over various species in public areas. In the last year, we were able to adapt the method and test a new and faster way of calculating the “spaces between leaves”. The process is based on the geometrization and photographic record of tree canopies and the calculation of the percentages of full and empty spaces by the MatLab program. The research has already classified four tree species and has been working on expanding the database with information on species used for urban landscape design in humid tropical climates. For future results, it intends to classify species from other Brazilian regions to facilitate the planning and specification of landscape design.