Analytic Tools
The Smart Surfaces Coalition and its partners are building the data and tools to enable cities to make rigorous, evidence-based decisions on surfaces.
Developed over 5 years with Coalition partners and a dozen cities, the tool enables cities to model the costs and benefits associated with changing surfaces city-wide. Through iterative use, cities can determine the most cost-effective and effective strategies to meet key goals around climate, urban cooling, job creation, and health.
The American Lung Association State of the Air report issues annual report cards for all cities and counties where air quality data is collected on ozone and particle pollution. The report cards rank cities and grade counties to determine which are the cleanest versus the most polluted.
Tree Equity Score, a tool developed by American Forests, analyzes various metrics such as tree cover, temperature, income, race, and health to quantify a neighborhood or city’s tree equity. Scores enable city and neighborhood officials and community members to understand where action is most needed.
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy releases an annual scorecard of all 50 U.S. states and Washington, DC. The tool tracks state policies and programs to reduce energy use and scores each state based on more than 32 performance metrics.
The Trust for Public Land's ParkScore index is the national gold-standard comparison of park systems across the 100 most populated cities in the United States. The index measures park systems annually according to five categories: access, investment, amenities, acreage, and equity.