University of Montana Researchers Launch Free Nationwide Individual Tree and Shrub Height and Structure Dataset

Researchers at the University of Montana have created a new free product that displays the height and structure of individual trees and shrubs across the entire contiguous United States in fine detail.

Dubbed the National Agriculture Imagery Program-Canopy Height Model, the data is available for download from UM servers. A continent-spanning example of NAIP-CHM is available online, as well as a zoomed-in view of the UM campus in Missoula. (Be sure to try the slider in the middle of the images.)

The University of Montana team, led by research scientist Scott Morford and the Working Lands for Wildlife Science Team, developed the National Agriculture Imagery Program-Canopy Height Model (NAIP-CHM). This detailed product reveals the height and structure of individual vegetation across the contiguous United States, providing a new resource for ecological research and land management.

Built from 2022-23 National Agriculture Imagery Program photos, NAIP-CHM achieves a 0.6-meter resolution and replaces the need for costly laser surveys and specialized data processing. The dataset is available for download from UM servers and via online interactive maps and was published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Data. Morford notes this innovation opens opportunities for land managers to prioritize treatments, estimate costs, and anticipate outcomes, especially in rangelands threatened by encroaching trees.

Going forward, Working Lands for Wildlife scientists plan to develop applications that convert this vegetation structure data into actionable conservation and restoration decisions.

While Montana is not specifically highlighted in this announcement, the state’s extensive rangelands and forested areas could benefit from this accessible, high-resolution vegetation data. Such tools may assist Montana land managers confronting challenges like wildfire fuel mapping and habitat conservation, potentially improving resource allocation and ecological outcomes.

UM Scientists Unveil Free Product That Maps Trees, Shrubs Across Entire Country
By Cary Shimek, University of Montana