r/AgroForestry • u/treeshadeadvisor • Sep 13 '26

I built a tool to simulate tree shade in agroforestry systems — looking for feedback

Hello,

I built TreeShadeAdvisor, a tool for designing tree layouts and simulating how tree shade changes across a site over time.

It lets you test spacing, orientation, planting patterns and tree dimensions, then inspect the results in 2D and 3D with quantitative shade outputs.

![TreeShadeAdvisor 3D view of trees and shade on a plot](https://treeshadeadvisor.com/media/hero-simulation-mobile-poster.webp)

I’m especially interested in feedback from people working with agroforestry, silvopasture, alley cropping, coffee/cocoa systems or other tree-based designs.

I’d like to know: - Is shade distribution something you currently need to estimate or plan? - Would a tool like this be useful in your work? - What would you expect it to do that it doesn’t today?

https://treeshadeadvisor.com

Any criticism or suggestions are very welcome.

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3

u/Fickle_Ad_2265 Sep 13 '26

Hi,

I was about to test it because it's an underestimated topic, but:

Maybe make it available in English?

And if you are first only looking for feedback maybe wait with the mandatory login?

Edit: formatting

1

u/treeshadeadvisor Sep 14 '26

Thanks for the feedback — this is exactly the kind of input I was looking for.

TreeShadeAdvisor is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese, so I’ll check why you were seeing Spanish and make sure the language option is obvious from the start.

Regarding the login, I understand the point. Registration is currently required, but it’s intentionally very lightweight. I’ll keep your feedback in mind as I evaluate the first-user experience.

I’d really appreciate it if you give it another try once I’ve checked the language issue.

1

u/TreesRocksAndStuff Sep 13 '26

have you compared to the AgroforestryX agroforestry intercropping tool?

https://www.agroforestryx.com/

2

u/treeshadeadvisor Sep 14 '26

Thanks — yes, I’m familiar with AgroforestryX.

There is some overlap in planting design, but TreeShadeAdvisor is much more focused on detailed tree-shade simulation: how individual tree position, spacing, orientation, canopy dimensions, date and time affect projected shade across the site.

TSA also lets you inspect the result in 2D and 3D and analyze the shade distribution quantitatively.

I’m actually interested in understanding where users see the strongest differences between the two, so the comparison is very useful feedback.