Platform / Methodology
How Co2Pathio measures forest carbon.
Our measurement methodology ingests validated remote-sensing datasets and maps each data point to the exact field requirements of REDD+, VCS, Gold Standard, and CAR — creating a machine-readable evidence record that auditors can inspect step by step.
Measurement Sources
Three sensing modalities, one normalized record.
Co2Pathio ingests from three primary remote-sensing channels, each delivering a complementary view of canopy structure and biomass.
SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar)
Cloud-penetrating backscatter data from Sentinel-1 and commercial SAR satellites. Used for above-ground biomass (AGB) density estimation in tropical canopy.
Optical / Multispectral
NDVI, EVI, and LAI indices derived from Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8/9. Provides canopy health, fractional cover, and land-use-change detection over time.
LiDAR / Airborne
Where available, airborne LiDAR datasets are ingested for high-resolution canopy height modelling. Used to calibrate SAR-derived biomass estimates in complex terrain.
Reference Allometry Tables
Co2Pathio maintains a curated database of biomass expansion factors and wood density values by tropical species region, updated annually from published IPCC and research sources.
Validation Pipeline
Six validation steps before a credit enters the chain.
Data Receipt
Provider dataset arrives with digital signature
Schema Check
Validates field completeness and coordinate reference
Baseline Comparison
AGB values compared against REDD+/VCS reference baselines
Additionality Test
Counterfactual assessment: would the carbon have been stored anyway?
Permanence Review
Buffer pool contribution calculated per standard's reversal rules
Hash Commitment
SHA-256 hash of validated record committed to the custody chain
Standards Mapping
Full coverage across all major voluntary frameworks.
| Standard | Coverage | Canopy Data | Additionality | Permanence | Leakage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REDD+ | 98% | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| VCS / Verra | 96% | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Gold Standard | 91% | ✔ | ✔ | Partial | ✔ |
| CAR | 87% | ✔ | Partial | ✔ | ✔ |
| Plan Vivo | 78% | ✔ | Partial | Partial | Partial |
Coverage percentage indicates proportion of standard's required methodology fields Co2Pathio automatically maps. Partial = field requires manual supplementation by project validator.
Inspect the chain structure.
Read how Co2Pathio's cryptographic custody links are constructed and verified.