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Updated: Jan 15, 2026
08:05
Design and Analysis for Fall Detection System Simplification
Published on: April 6, 2020
11.1K
Tree canopy cover and injurious pedestrian falls: a location-based case-control study
Kathryn G Burford1, Alexander X Lo2,3, James W Quinn4
1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States.
American Journal of Epidemiology
|October 14, 2025
Summary
Higher tree canopy cover is linked to fewer pedestrian falls, particularly in summer. This study used emergency medical services data to explore the association between urban tree canopy and fall locations.
Area of Science:
- Urban planning
- Environmental health
- Public health
Background:
- Injurious pedestrian falls are a significant public health issue in the US, with limited research on prevention.
- Street trees can cause sidewalk damage, increasing fall risk, but tree canopy may mitigate falls by reducing heat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pilot the use of emergency medical services (EMS) data for a multi-city, location-based case-control study.
- To investigate the association between tree canopy cover and the locations of injurious pedestrian falls.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design using EMS data from April to September 2019.
- Identified 497 pedestrian fall locations (cases) and 994 matched control locations.
- Quantified percent tree canopy cover within a 100-m buffer of each location.
Main Results:
- Median tree canopy cover was lower at fall locations (8%) compared to control locations (14%).
- Increased tree canopy cover was inversely associated with pedestrian fall locations (adjusted OR=0.57).
Conclusions:
- Higher tree canopy cover is associated with a reduced risk of injurious pedestrian falls.
- EMS data can be utilized for location-based epidemiological studies on fall prevention.
- Further research is needed to address methodological challenges in using EMS data for fall research.
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