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Aotearoa Long-term Tree Observatory

An open observatory from the Better Places Lab. Explore Auckland’s trees, investigate our estimates and help test what the models get right or wrong.

ALTO brings Auckland’s tree records, aerial laser surveys and imagery together. For each tree, it estimates size, form, roots and environmental benefits, and links earlier canopy records where available. Open a profile to see the source data, compare estimates and find observations that could improve them.

Auckland release totals

0total trees

0crowns

0LiDAR-inferred

0protected

$0modelled value / year

0 m³estimated runoff / year

0 tCO₂eestimated carbon

Service totals exclude nominal crownless-tree scenarios.

Download the data

The inventory download has 85 core attributes. Select a tree to explore its full research record: additional dimensions, root estimates, service assumptions, competing growth-form scores and historic canopy data. You can download that tree’s complete record as JSON.

Methods and sources

The methods explain how ALTO finds trees, estimates their dimensions and benefits, links surveys through time, and tests its predictions. They include the assumptions, test results and gaps still to resolve. Model code and documentation.

Coverage and limitations

The current map covers metropolitan Auckland. Earlier canopy records depend on historic survey coverage and successful matching. Some current trees have no usable laser returns. Trunk diameter and roots are estimated; field measurements would improve both. Species names come from source inventories, while the classifier estimates four broad tree types.

Release provenance

Release

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Release metadata (JSON)

Attribution

Developed by the Better Places Lab (Dr Timothy F. Welch), Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland. Built on Auckland Council open data, LINZ LiDAR and imagery, and i-Tree species references.