UNSW Sydney

Canopy Consulting completed an AI-assisted canopy cover assessment for UNSW Sydney’s Kensington campus, using image segmentation and spatial analysis to better understand the distribution and value of canopy across a complex education environment.

University campuses contain a wide mix of buildings, paths, roads, open spaces, gathering areas, and mature trees. Understanding canopy cover across these environments is important for shade, amenity, heat reduction, landscape planning, and long-term urban forest management.

The assessment used AI segmentation to identify canopy cover across the campus and translate that information into a clearer spatial picture. This allowed canopy distribution to be understood across different parts of the site, supporting more informed conversations about existing tree assets and future canopy opportunities.

The work moved beyond a simple tree count. By focusing on canopy cover and spatial relationships, the assessment helped show how trees contribute to the performance and character of the campus as a whole.