Shade tree guidance
Shade provides numerous health benefits and can help protect communities from the harmful effects of excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and future skin cancer risk. Tree canopy plays a fundamental role in its natural contribution to shade within our urban environments.
Queensland Health has commissioned academic research with Professor Nathan Downs of University of Southern Queensland (USQ) to identify optimal tree species to maximise UV radiation protection and shade provision.
As a result of this commission, a new resource for shade tree guidance has been developed that provides a wealth of information about shade.
Visit the Shade tree guidance resource.
CanopyCast tool
The new shade tree guidance resource also includes a new tool called ‘CanopyCast’. The tool has been developed to translate technical evidence-based data generated by Professor Nathan Downs into a practical application. It will analyse UV radiation and shade protection for various tree forms and densities and along footpaths positioned in various orientations.