Project Title: Urban Design Studio CEEEM Summer Internship Project 2025
Downtown Street Tree Audit for Urban Greening
For Louisville to thrive, downtown must not be viewed solely as the traditional business center but as a vibrant, livable urban neighborhood that enhances the region's appeal. A key aspect of this transformation is integrating nature into the built environment in ways that improve public health and overall well-being.
The Urban Design Studio (UDS) at the University of Louisville’s Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute is exploring innovative, evidence-based urban greening strategies to revitalize downtown Louisville. This initiative aims to create a healthier environment for residents, workers, and visitors through strategic urban forestry efforts.
Project Scope and Objectives
As a foundational step in this work, the summer student intern team will focus on assessing the current state of downtown Louisville’s street trees. Establishing a strong baseline dataset is essential for tracking progress and guiding future greening initiatives. Key objectives include:
Tree Species Identification: Using iNaturalist and other tools to document tree species.
On-Site Field Evaluation: Validating georeferenced tree location data and assessing tree well conditions.
Baseline Data Collection: Gathering critical information on tree health, canopy coverage, and environmental impact.
Collaborative Approach
This effort will be conducted in partnership with:
University of Louisville faculty and research teams
Louisville Metro Urban Forestry
Environmental organizations and urban planning professionals
Through these collaborations, UDS aims to develop a comprehensive analysis of the downtown tree canopy, particularly focusing on street trees and other public green spaces.
Learning and Skill Development
Interns involved in this project will gain hands-on experience with:
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for mapping and analysis
Environmental data collection and health-related metric development
Urban landscape assessment to support evidence-based policy recommendations
Impact and Future Goals
This project serves as the first step in a long-term effort to make downtown Louisville a healthier, greener, and more economically resilient urban core. The street tree audit will provide essential data to guide future interventions and position the Envirome Institute as a leader in evidence-based urban greening.
Key Stakeholders:
· UofL Envirome Institute
· Metro Louisville
· Louisville Downtown Partnership
· Tree Planting Organizations
Number of Students: 3-4 College
Key Mentor: Patrick Piuma