Why not just use satellite NDVI?

NDVI is powerful but has revisit gaps, cloud loss, and a scale that misses stand-level detail. A physics-informed proxy — driven by temperature anomaly, precipitation deficit, heat-day count, and species-specific vulnerability — fills the gaps and adds forward projection.

What does the vigor score actually measure?

A 0–100 estimate of stand-level greenness relative to the site's climate potential, weighted by the species mix's real drought and pest tolerance. It's a decline-tracking score, not a productivity score.

How is it calibrated?

By pairing with Sentinel Bio microclimate sensors on the forest floor, the model calibrates its inputs against actual observed temperature, humidity, and precipitation — closing the loop between projection and ground truth.

How early can vigor decline be detected?

Roughly one season ahead of visible crown fade for drought-driven decline, and two to three seasons ahead for pest-driven decline. That's the operational value: enough lead time to act.

Canopy vigor monitoring: a greenness proxy without satellite.

Canopy vigor, physics-informed.

Satellite has gaps. Ground truth has coverage limits. A physics-informed vigor proxy fills both — calibrated by the sensors under the canopy.

How the score is built

Temperature anomaly. Deviation from the site's 30-year normal.
Precipitation deficit. Cumulative shortfall vs the growing-season baseline.
Heat-day count. Days above the local heat-stress threshold.
Species vulnerability. Mix-weighted drought and pest tolerance.

Ground truth with Sentinel Bio

Pair vigor scoring with Sentinel Bio — the fully biodegradable sensor built for the forest floor — for microclimate calibration under the canopy. Same $250 price as the standard Sentinel.

Run it on your units

The Forest Health workspace tracks vigor with a 20-year trajectory and an active-year scrubber. Try it in the forestry demo.

Common questions

Why not just use satellite NDVI?: NDVI is powerful but has revisit gaps, cloud loss, and a scale that misses stand-level detail. A physics-informed proxy — driven by temperature anomaly, precipitation deficit, heat-day count, and species-specific vulnerability — fills the gaps and adds forward projection.
What does the vigor score actually measure?: A 0–100 estimate of stand-level greenness relative to the site's climate potential, weighted by the species mix's real drought and pest tolerance. It's a decline-tracking score, not a productivity score.
How is it calibrated?: By pairing with Sentinel Bio microclimate sensors on the forest floor, the model calibrates its inputs against actual observed temperature, humidity, and precipitation — closing the loop between projection and ground truth.
How early can vigor decline be detected?: Roughly one season ahead of visible crown fade for drought-driven decline, and two to three seasons ahead for pest-driven decline. That's the operational value: enough lead time to act.

// try the model

Run this on your address.

See your address-level flood, fire, wind, heat, and outage scores — plus a 20-year outlook. No login for the demo.

open the demo →see pricing