How can technology deepen our understanding of trees and their cooling power across cities worldwide?

Re-Leaf invites visitors to explore urban landscapes through a new lens—one shaped by the presence, density, and diversity of trees. Drawing on research from MIT Senseable City Lab and MIT Assistant Professor Sara Beery’s Tree D-fusion system, the exhibition reveals how artificial intelligence can map urban greenery at unprecedented resolution, from entire cityscapes down to individual trees. 
Focusing on Amsterdam, Dubai, Los Angeles, and Rome, Re-Leaf visualizes each city's tree distribution as dynamic “green skyscrapers.” These physical models, generated through AI-powered analysis of street views and satellite imagery, allow visitors to intuitively compare greenery across parts of each city. Moving through the green “forest,” visitors gain a new perspective on where trees thrive, where they are sparse, and how vegetation shapes urban life. 
Screens provide deeper insights, shifting from satellite views to close-ups of selected trees, highlighting variations in species, age, leaf density, and potential cooling effects—critical factors for designing climate-resilient cities. An interactive web app, accessible via QR code, offers a digital extension of the experience: visitors can explore individual trees, discovering their morphology, species, and cooling contribution.
Re-Leaf transforms the way we perceive urban nature, unveiling the silent but essential role that trees play in shaping healthier, more sustainable cities worldwide.

Curated by
Martina Mazzarello, Senseable City Lab, MIT
Fábio Duarte, Senseable City Lab, MIT
Diego Morra, Senseable City Lab, MIT
Chada Elalami, Senseable City Lab, MIT
Umberto Fugiglando, Senseable City Lab, MIT
Pietro Pagliaro
Sara Beery, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, MIT
Jae Joong Lee, Purdue University