CMS: High-Resolution Tree Canopy Cover for Northeast USA

State-level data for Pennsylvania (2008), Delaware (2014), and Maryland (2013) provides 1-meter resolution tree canopy cover for the Northeast USA. The data were created using a rules-based expert system that integrated leaf-on LiDAR and imagery, exploiting spectral, height, and spatial information. Additional states are planned to be added as processing is completed.

Use Cases

• Urban forestry planning based on high-resolution canopy extent and location.
• Carbon stock estimation using detailed canopy cover as a key input variable.
• Land cover change analysis comparing canopy data from different nominal years (2008, 2013, 2014).
• Habitat connectivity modeling leveraging the 1-meter spatial resolution of the data.
• Validation of coarser-resolution satellite-derived land cover products.

Strengths

• Provides very high 1-meter spatial resolution for detailed analysis.
• Integrates multiple data sources (LiDAR and imagery) using an expert system for classification.
• Cross-platform presence on Data.gov and NASA Earthdata suggests importance and curation.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low; specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist between sources (2014 vs. 2026), making data currency unclear.
• Geographic coverage is currently limited to three states, though expansion is planned.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Derived via a rules-based expert system integrating leaf-on LiDAR and imagery data.

Time Range

2008 to 2014 (nominal years for available states)

Freshness

The most recent update recorded is 2026-04-10, though a conflicting date of 2014-08-30 exists.

Geography

Northeast USA, specifically Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.