UFORE is an acronym for "Urban Forest Effects" and refers to a computer model that calculates the structure, environmental effects and values of urban forests. The UFORE model was developed in the late 1990s by researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station in Syracuse, NY.

UFORE was originally developed as a research tool. Anyone interested in urban forestry, especially its environmental effects, will find the data analysis capabilities useful.

After tree data are collected and entered into the UFORE field input database (either by uploading from PDAs or by doing manual entry), they are merged with local hourly weather and air pollution concentration data. These data make it possible to calculate structural and functional information using a series of scientific equations or algorithms.


UFORE can handle inventories or sampling of any area, no matter how large or small.

If an inventory is conducted (i.e., all trees are measured; a 100% sample), then UFORE calculates values for each tree and for the total population.


Structural Calculations

Structural data provide information on the physical characteristics of the vegetation (e.g., species composition, tree sizes, tree health, leaf area). Structure is what a person sees and what urban foresters and homeowners manage. Many of the structural estimates are based directly on the field measurements (e.g., species, DBH, tree height, crown width, etc.).

Carbon Calculations

Carbon storage and sequestration by trees reduces carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming To estimate the amount of carbon stored and annually sequestered or removed by trees

Building Energy Use Calculations

Information on tree sizes, types, and distance and direction from two-story building is used to estimate tree effects on building energy use. The UFORE model uses published methods to estimate existing tree effects in summer and winter space conditioning energy use and associated carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

Air Pollution Effects Calculations

Urban vegetation removes a number of air pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and particulate matter. Gaseous pollutants (e.g., ozone) tend to be removed within the stomates of the leaves, while particles are mostly captured on the plant surface. Hourly air pollution removal by the urban forest and the associated improvements in air quality are calculated using a hybrid multi-layer / big-leaf modeling approach.

In addition, UFORE also calculates hourly volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by trees. VOCs can contribute to ozone formation, and are important to help understand the net effect of trees on ozone and to provide inputs into ozone photochemical models in order to determine the best strategies to improve air quality.

Pollen Calculations

To determine the effects of tree pollen on urban residents, UFORE incorporates a pollen rating scale called the Ogren Plant-Allergy Scale.