AI Tree Detection automatically places accurate 3D tree models — including location, canopy spread, and height — on a site in Design Mode. Instead of drawing trees manually, click the AI Trees button and Aurora handles detection. The process typically takes about 30 seconds.
- Before you begin
- Run AI Tree Detection on demand
- Run AI Tree Detection automatically with AI SmartRoof or AI Roof faces
- Review and edit AI-placed trees
- Delete AI-placed trees
- Show or hide trees
- View AI trees in Sales Mode
- FAQ
Before you begin
- Your account must have Aurora AI access. If you are not sure, contact your account admin.
- To enable bundled mode — tree detection running automatically alongside AI SmartRoof or AI Roof faces — a tenant admin must turn on the Run AI Trees with AI Roofs setting in Settings > Design. Standalone on-demand detection via the AI Trees button requires no additional configuration.
Run AI Tree Detection on demand
- Open a project in Design Mode.
- Click the AI Trees button in the toolbar.
- If the design already contains AI-placed trees, Aurora will prompt you to keep or clear them. Clearing existing trees before re-running is recommended — re-running without clearing can produce duplicate trees.
- Aurora runs tree detection and places 3D models across the site. Detection typically completes in about 30 seconds.
- AI-placed trees appear in a distinct darker green, making them easy to identify against manually drawn trees.
- Disable LiDAR shading for shading and irradiance analysis so duplicate shading from LiDAR and AI trees does not impact production results. To disable LiDAR shading in Design Mode, open Simulation settings and turn off LiDAR shading.
Run AI Tree Detection automatically with AI SmartRoof or AI Roof faces
When bundled mode is enabled by a tenant admin, tree detection runs automatically every time a designer runs AI SmartRoof or AI Roof faces — no additional click required. Bundled mode produces more accurate results because the pipeline re-renders imagery at full resolution.
To enable bundled mode:
- Go to Settings in the left navigation.
- Under Projects and designs, select Design.
- Click Edit, then enable the Run AI Trees with AI Roofs setting.
- Click Save.
📝 Note: Bundled mode defaults to off. Standalone detection via the AI Trees button is always available regardless of whether bundled mode is enabled.
📝Note: When using AI trees, you need to disable LiDAR shading for shading and irradiance analysis so duplicate shading from LiDAR and AI trees does not impact production results. In Design Mode, open Simulation settings and turn off LiDAR shading.
Review and edit AI-placed trees
AI-placed trees are standard CAD tree objects. Each tree can be edited directly in Design Mode:
- Move: click and drag the tree to a new position on the canvas.
- Change type: click the tree and switch between sphere and cone in the inspector panel on the right.
- Adjust height: click the tree and change the height value in the inspector panel on the right.
- Resize canopy: click the tree and adjust the crown diameter and height in the inspector panel on the right.
📝 Note: AI Tree Detection sometimes oversizes canopy widths and underestimates tree heights, particularly in dense vegetation. A quick review pass after detection is recommended.
Delete AI-placed trees
To delete an individual tree: select the tree in Design Mode, then press Delete on your keyboard.
To bulk-remove all unedited AI-placed trees at once: click the Delete button in the AI Trees modal. This action removes only AI-placed trees that have not been manually edited — trees you have moved, resized, or adjusted are excluded.
📝 Note: Manually drawn trees are not affected by the bulk-delete action.
Show or hide trees
To toggle tree visibility on a design: open the View Settings dropdown in Design Mode and use the trees toggle.
View AI trees in Sales Mode
Trees placed in Design Mode remain visible when a design is opened in Sales Mode. Reps can toggle tree visibility on or off — for example, to choose whether trees appear in a proposal — using the View Settings toggle. Trees cannot be edited or deleted in Sales Mode. Return to Design Mode to make any changes.
📝 Note: If the bundled mode setting is enabled and a users runs Aurora AI from Sales Mode, nothing will happen. AI Tree Detection can only be run from Design Mode.
FAQ
What if the AI places a tree in the wrong location?
Every AI-placed tree is a fully editable CAD object. You can select the tree and move it, resize the canopy, adjust the height, or delete it. To remove all unedited AI trees and start over, use the bulk-delete button in the AI Trees modal.
Does AI Tree Detection require Aurora AI to have been run on the design first?
No. Standalone mode via the AI Trees button is available at any time in Design Mode, independent of any other Aurora AI feature.
Does AI Tree Detection consume credits?
No. AI Tree Detection does not consume credits, whether run standalone or alongside AI SmartRoof or AI Roof faces.
Why is detection accuracy lower on some projects?
Accuracy can be reduced on sites that use Google Maps or Bing as the primary imagery source when those images are lower quality. If this is the case, try another image source to see if you get better results.
Can I re-run AI Tree Detection on a design that already has AI-placed trees?
Yes. Aurora will prompt you to keep or clear the existing AI trees before re-running. Clearing first is recommended — re-running without clearing can produce duplicate trees.
Does AI Tree Detection run in Sales Mode?
No. AI Tree Detection runs in Design Mode only. Trees placed in Design Mode stay visible in Sales Mode, but cannot be edited or deleted there.
What is the difference between standalone and bundled mode?
Standalone runs tree detection when you click the AI Trees button in Design Mode. Bundled mode runs tree detection automatically as part of every AI SmartRoof or AI Roof faces run. Bundled mode requires a tenant admin to enable the Run AI Trees with AI Roofs setting in Settings > Design. Bundled mode also produces more accurate results because the pipeline re-renders imagery at full resolution.
Are AI trees available via the API?
AI Tree Detection can be triggered along with AI SmartRoof or AI Roof faces using the AI API when bundled mode is enabled.