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Image: Extract from Urban Heat and Tree Mapping of Adelaide Metropolitan Area (https://data.environment.sa.gov.au/Climate/Data-
Systems/Urban-Heat-Mapping/Pages/default.aspx)
The table below outlines the differences between the LiDAR method and that used to set the 2015
baseline (i-Tree method) in the 30-Year Plan. It demonstrates why these methods cannot be
compared directly, and therefore why an accurate measure of change is not currently possible.
Key variations between i-Tree and LiDAR methods
• Measures trees and shrubs.
• Random sample technique applied to LGA.
• Covered 19 LGAs including Adelaide Hills which had
the highest canopy cover (>50%) of all LGAs in the
study area. Measurements were provided for each
LGA. An average of the 19 LGAs is shown for the
baseline.
• Measures tree canopy only (trees greater than 3m).
• Accurate and complete measurement of all trees.
• Captured for most metropolitan LGAs. Adelaide Hills,
Playford and Gawler LGAs were only partially
captured by LiDAR. These LGAs could therefore not
be calculated and were excluded from the 2020
calculation.
The 2018/2019 LiDAR data capture has been used to map tree canopy cover by LGA as displayed in
Map 2. The benefits of this data to provide a more accurate and repetitive method for monitoring
change over time has led to the recommendation that this data be used to establish a new baseline
for the 2020 report card. In June 2022, updated LiDAR data will be available to provide the first like-
for-like comparison of tree canopy change.
In addition to the improved measurement method, there are recent policy changes that will facilitate
successful achievement of this target in the longer term. These include:
• The Planning and Design Code now incorporates an Urban Tree Canopy Overlay, with the
dersired outcome being to ensure that new residential development preserves and enhances
urban tree canopy through the planting of new trees and retention of existing mature trees.
• The Urban Tree Canopy Off-set Scheme
facilitates tree planting and the enhancement of tree
canopy in metropolitan Adelaide.