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 resource for shade tree guidance has been developed that provides a wealth of information about shade. Visit the Shade tree guidance resource.
CanopyCast Pro tool
CanopyCast Pro is a digital solar analysis web application that informs shade provision and UV index reduction provided by built form and tree canopy. It helps designers, decision-makers and government agencies plan and optimise both natural and built shade on projects. Users can test and optimise their shade and UV reduction using a combination of tree form, built form, awnings and shade structures in a development at different times of day across any Queensland location.
The original CanopyCast is an informative website that can be used to display static results for UV index reduction and shade provided by trees across five locations in Queensland, with the ability to select different tree forms and options to modify planting spacings.