A GIS based Study on the Tree Canopy Cover, Distribution, Pattern and its Relationship with Normalized Difference Vegetative Index in the Selected College and University Campuses of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu

Urbanization in India is not only environmentally challenging but socially and economically alarming too. Compact urban areas are characterized by the close juxtaposition of buildings and roads with limited interstitial space to insert greenery; mixed land use. A city with highquality and generous green spaces epitomizes good planning and management, a healthy environment for humans, vegetation and wildlife populations.The urban surfaces absorb heat and increase the temperature comparatively to the surrounding area. Green spaces in close proximity to homes encourage exercise, which can improve mental health. Green spaces, such as community gardens or even the shade of a large tree, encourage students to perform better academically and reduce mental stress. Educational theory suggests that contact with nature facilitates children’s development of cognitive, emotional, and spiritual connections to social and biophysical environments around them. An attempt is made in the present study to quantify the degree of greenness in the college and university campuses of 21 selected sites in Coimbatore district. The study showed that linear canopy pattern is dominant in urban settings along road sides and surrounding built ups in many sites giving NDVI value ranging between 0.5 to 0.3. Most of the sites have open canopy cover mostly which are cultivated lands. The maximum NDVI recorded was 0.569 and minimum as 0.255. According to the coefficient of variance analysis closed canopy cover is best pattern fit to give maximum NDVI, but when it comes to urban settings street canopy has a significant role. Urban forest canopy is an emerging and challenging issue in Indian urban set ups but in this changing climate with heat waves, sun burns, skin cancers and behavioral agitations seen in the population it is important to analyze the urban forest network and its association with health aspects especially

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