EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TREE CANOPY COVER AND WALKABILITY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Suasnovar, Zoey
Suasnovar, Zoey
Citations
Altmetric:
Soloist
Composer
Publisher
Date
2025-05-19
Additional date(s)
Abstract
Cities are increasingly adopting and promoting actions in support of their sustainability goals to enhance community wellbeing and improve environmental quality. These actions include providing more sustainable transportation choices, like bike lanes, micro-mobility options (e.g., scooters or e-bikes), and enhanced walkability. Yet, as municipalities offer these alternatives, increasing urban heat may deter residents and visitors from using them. Cities, such as Austin, Texas, have become hotter over the last decade due to increasing impervious cover and tree loss associated with urban (re)development. Urban trees provide cooling effects to the surrounding area through evapotranspiration and shade. Thus, tree shade is important to promote more walkable neighborhoods, especially in the summer months. This study looks at the relationship between canopy cover and urban walkability in Austin. We created a geographic information system (GIS) to examine the interactions between canopy cover, walkability, socioeconomic characteristics (i.e., race, gender, income, and home-owner status), and sidewalks. In doing so, we found a total of 2,552.47 km of shaded sidewalks, equaling about a third of all sidewalks in Austin. We also found that canopy cover and walkability vary by location. Some areas have high canopy cover and low walkability, whereas other areas have low canopy cover and high walkability. Our results also indicate that some areas have less shaded sidewalks than others and vary based on an area's socioeconomic characteristics. The results of this research may be used to promote sustainable cities and urban forestry along sidewalks to help mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) effect.