•  
  •  
 

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

urban areas, United Nations, vegetation indices, urban forest health

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Geography

Abstract

As the principal habitat of the human race, urban areas require a high degree of attention and research. The United Nations has estimated that slightly over 50% of the world’s population now lives in urban areas. This number is projected to increase steadily in the coming decades. The ability to understand our habitat as a species is key to understanding our future. An important component of any urban area is the urban forest. McPherson and Luttinger (1996) stated that “[r]esearch is revealing that with proper management and care, urban forests can contribute to the economic vitality and the quality of life in cities” (p. 53). This research sought to further explain this relationship using a regression analysis between urban forest health and single family homes’ value using remote sensing technology. A secondary goal was to determine whether vegetation indices derived from hyperspectral data are better for estimating home value than indices derived from multispectral data. The hypothesis used in this research was that home values had a strong, positive correlation with vegetation health.

Download

Included in

Geography Commons

Share

COinS