Canopy Height Map for Six Quebec Metropolitan Areas 2022

2022 canopy mapping for six Quebec census metropolitan areas (Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec, Saguenay, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières) derived from 2010-2020 airborne lidar data. The dataset was produced by the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec using deep learning methods on 1-meter resolution variables. It defines canopy as ground projection of tree crowns for vegetation over 2 meters tall.

Use Cases

• Analyze canopy height distribution across the six metropolitan areas to assess urban forest structure.
• Model the relationship between lidar-derived variables and canopy presence for land cover classification.
• Integrate canopy raster data with other urban datasets to study green space coverage per CMA.

Strengths

• Derived from a decade of raw airborne lidar data (2010-2020), providing a multi-year basis for analysis.
• Covers six distinct census metropolitan areas, offering comparative urban ecological scope.
• Generated using deep learning methods on 1-meter resolution variables, indicating detailed spatial processing.

Limitations

• Canopy definition excludes vegetation under 2 meters tall, missing shrubs and young trees.
• The underlying lidar data is up to 12 years older than the 2022 map product, potentially not reflecting recent changes.

Provenance

Source

National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ), forest remote sensing laboratory of CERFO.

Collection Method

Deep learning methods applied to variables calculated from raw airborne lidar data.

Time Range

Lidar source data from 2010-2020; canopy map product for 2022.

Freshness

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Geography

Six census metropolitan areas of Quebec: Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec, Saguenay, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières.