Ford C3 - Tree Optimization Project

The primary environmental factor is that trees give us life. Trees reduce heat gain in summer, heat loss in winter, reduce runoff, filter water before it hits rivers and streams, add nutrients to the soil, convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, purify the air we breathe, provide wildlife habitat and look great.

A tree inventory is a basic but essential tool for gathering and analyzing data about trees. An inventory of trees and planting spaces provide information for the planning, design, planting, maintenance, and removal of community trees. The prime benefits include:

• Determining and increasing the environmental impact of trees in the community.
• Improving the process of planting and maintaining trees.
• Assessing the social and personal benefits of trees in the community.
• Determining the economic value of the existing trees and the community wants to plant.

These plots which are publicly accessible can be prime locations for green infrastructure and also for planting trees especially mature ones. A single mature tree can absorb carbon dioxide at a rate of 21.6 KG/year and release enough oxygen back into the atmosphere to support 2 human beings. Research has also shown a 60% reduction in particulates from exhaust fumes in tree lined streets. These trees will thus not only increase the canopy cover of the South End but will also take a step forward towards helping the area from getting exposed to high amount of particulate matter. For every 10% increase in urban tree canopy, ozone can reduced by between 3-7%.The entire southeastern portion of Michigan lies above the annual threshold for ground level ozone air pollution. In addition, the southeastern parts of Dearborn also lie in a Non-Attainment area for sulfur dioxide(Figure 2). Short-term exposures to sulfur dioxide can harm the respiratory system and make breathing difficult which might be contributing to the higher percentage of people with asthma in the South end.

Thus a future plans of more green infrastructure and a tree inventory can help the South End tackle a lot of environmental issues it has been facing for a while.

Climate sciences forsee a future where extreme weather events could happen with increased frequency and strength which in turn increases the risk of floods. The expected consequences are injuries or fatalities and increase in economic losses in urban areas. These depend on the specific vulnerability of the area hit by the event. What is social vulnerability? According to the CDC, every community must prepare for and respond to hazardous events whether it be a natural disaster or disease outbreak. Certain social conditions such as high poverty, low percentage of vehicle access or crowded households may affect that community's ability to prevent human suffering and financial loss in the event of a disaster. These factors among others constitute a community's social vulnerability (CDC SVI 2018 Documentation).

In communications with Friends of the Rouge organization and City Planner and officials in Dearborn, an interest in socioeconomic data was expressed. Access to these variables along with other information such as flood factor risk, air quality, population characteristics, percent of developed and undeveloped land use, low elevation areas, road network/density, bus stops and so on provide additional information for planning purposes. These data layers tie in with identifying areas that are at risk to health issues and potential other concerns and would benefit from the planting of trees to create a better neighborhood for the South End.

The City of Dearborn experienced major flooding this year and the South End was particularly affected. The maps are based on USGS census tracts and ACS survey data. They will help to provide a general overview and spatial context of the community's vulnerability. The South End study area boundary of Dearborn is predominantly within census tract 5735. A few of the socio-economic factors are shown in some maps which will help provide the spatial context of the South End community's vulnerability compared to other parts of the city of Dearborn. Clicking on a census tract in the map gives a pop up with information and a bar graph or chart. With this general information, the city planner and officials will be able to target certain areas for more detailed planning and action.

The percent of undeveloped land use created from the NLCD dataset for Dearborn shows less undeveloped land for the South End. This combined with the high population, presence of industries, moderate road density, few bus stops, limited mobility access, low elevation, flood factor risk all serve as contributing factors for the community’s high social vulnerability in addition to the CDC demarcated factors of the maps above. A recent field trip showed the proximity of industry to Salina elementary/intermediate school. This affects air quality in the area and has contributed to respiratory health issues for the children and residents. Asthma rates are some of the most striking data from the 500 Cities project. Many of the census tract areas in the 48126 zip code are 150% higher than the US average (8.9%). Tracts 5735 and 5736 have an asthma prevalence of 14% and 14.2% respectively. While the Eastern side of the city have the highest rates, asthma still appears to be a problem for the whole city (500 Cities Project, Wayne State School of Medicine,2016).

The locations that present the high scores are typically census tracts with large concentrations of minority residents, high levels of poverty and unemployment, low educational attainment, and other indicators of social disadvantage, according to Paul Mohai, a professor at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability (2019).These places also have the greatest concentration of environmental burdens such as high estimated disease and health risks, high levels of air pollution including particulate matter, high traffic proximity and noise volume owing to industrial facilities and less green spaces. 

According to Blair (2021), it is quite a coincidence that Dr. Suess’s “The Lorax’ celebrates its 50th anniversary the same week the United Nations released its climate change report. She writes “the conflict between the industrious, polluting Once-Ler and the feisty Lorax who ‘speaks for the trees’ feels more prescient than ever” (Blair). 

City planners and public officials along with Friends of the Rouge and others can use the information and maps presented above to help communities and better plan and prepare for the future.