A new tool has been launched by the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and American Forests to help cities in the United States address extreme heat. The Shade Map, available through American Forests’ Tree Equity Score platform, provides a detailed view of shade infrastructure in over 360 U.S. cities and towns. It allows decision-makers to see where shade exists and where it is lacking, offering data that can guide local heat resilience efforts.
“Most cities aren’t armed with the data they need to know if there is shade where communities need it most,” stated V. Kelly Turner, associate director of the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation. “That’s where the Shade Map comes in. Never before has it been this easy for communities in the U.S. to know how much shade they have, where it is and whether the source is buildings or vegetation.”
The map identifies widespread “shade deserts” across major urban regions in the U.S., highlighting areas without adequate shade infrastructure. With extreme heat contributing to approximately 12,000 premature deaths annually, this resource addresses an urgent public health concern. At noon, trees provide 25 times more shade than buildings, making them an effective solution.
The Shade Map shows shade coverage at different times of day — noon, 3 p.m., and 6 p.m., including parcel-level data in select cities. This feature enables civic leaders to determine where investments are needed most in both natural and engineered shade.
Researchers demonstrated how the tool can be applied through three case studies: In Austin, parents can examine shade coverage on school routes; in Detroit, transit planners and riders can assess conditions at bus stops; and in Phoenix, city planners can use data to enhance public parks under the city’s Shade Phoenix Plan.
This initiative was supported by funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
For more information on how research from UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation contributes to heat equity solutions aimed at improving human well-being and quality of life, visit their website.
Further details about extreme heat are available on UCLA Newsroom.
