Estimation of tree lists from airborne laser scanning by combining single-tree and area-based methods

Lindberg, Eva; Holmgren, Johan; Olofsson, Kenneth; Wallerman, Jörgen; Olsson, Håkan

doi:10.1080/01431160903380649

Cited by 67 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(25 reference statements)

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“…As an alternative to the grid-based approach, use of automatic stand delineation by image segmentation has been studied for defining inventory units (e.g., [8]). Automatic segmentation of ALS data has also been applied for delineating very small segments with a view to detecting individual tree crowns (e.g., [9,10]). In estimating stand level forest attributes (area based approach) the segment size is larger than single tree crowns.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Grid-Based and Segment-Based Estimation of Forest Attributes Using Airborne Laser Scanning and Digital Aerial Imagery

Tuominen¹,

Haapanen²

2011

Remote Sensing

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Forest management planning in Finland is currently adopting a new-generation forest inventory method, which is based on interpretation of airborne laser scanning data and digital aerial images. The inventory method is based on a systematic grid, where the grid elements serve as inventory units, for which the laser and aerial image data are extracted and the forest variables estimated. As an alternative or a complement to the grid elements, image segments can be used as inventory units. The image segments are particularly useful as the basis for generation of the silvicultural treatment and cutting units since their boundaries should follow the actual stand borders, whereas when using grid elements it is typical that some of them cover parts of several forest stands. The proportion of the so-called mixed cells depends on the size of the grid elements and the average size and shape of the stands. In this study, we carried out automatic segmentation of two study areas on the basis of laser and aerial image data with a view to delineating micro-stands that are homogeneous in relation to their forest attributes. Further, we extracted laser and aerial image features for both systematic grid elements and segments. For both units, the feature set used for estimating the forest attributes was selected by means of a genetic algorithm. Of the features selected, the majority (61-79%) were based on the airborne laser scanning data. Despite the theoretical advantages of the image segments, the laser and aerial features extracted from grid elements seem to work better than features extracted from image segments in estimation of forest attributes. We conclude that estimation should OPEN ACCESSRemote Sens. 2011, 3 946 be carried out at grid level with an area-specific combination of features and estimates for image segments to be derived on the basis of the grid-level estimates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Grid-Based and Segment-Based Estimation of Forest Attributes Using Airborne Laser Scanning and Digital Aerial Imagery

Tuominen¹,

Haapanen²

2011

Remote Sensing

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“…AB and ITC approaches to estimating biophysical attributes are not mutually exclusive, and several authors demonstrated how they can be combined [e.g. Lindberg et al, 2010;Vastaranta et al, 2012].…”

Section: Area-based and Individual Tree Crown Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne Laser Scanning to support forest resource management under alpine, temperate and Mediterranean environments in Italy

Corona

Cartisano

Salvati

et al. 2012

European Journal of Remote Sensing

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This paper aims to provide general considerations, in the form of a scientific review, with reference to selected experiences of ALS applications under alpine, temperate and Mediterranean environments in Italy as case studies. In Italy, the use of ALS data have been mainly focused on the stratification of forest stands and the estimation of their timber volume and biomass at local scale. Potential for ALS data exploitation concerns their integration in forest inventories on large territories, their usage for silvicultural systems detection and their use for the estimation of fuel load in forest and pre-forest stands. Multitemporal ALS may even be suitable to support the assessment of current annual volume increment and the harvesting rates.

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“…In the second phase, accurately located field trees are linked to the segments , Lindberg et al 2010, Breidenbach et al 2010. In contrast to ITD, it is not assumed that a single segment represents a single tree (see Figure 8).…”

Section: Estimation Of Stand Variables Using a Tree Cluster Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The TCA does not provide information as detailed as ITD could, in theory, but it is still capable of capturing the spatial variation in stand variables better than ABA. Lindberg et al (2010) used the TCA to predict consistent tree height and stem diameter distributions. Breidenbach et al (2010) obtained a plot-level RMSE of 17.1% for VOL compared to 20.6% with ABA.…”

Section: Estimation Of Stand Variables Using a Tree Cluster Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest mapping and monitoring using active 3D remote sensing

Vastaranta¹

2012

Diss. For.

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The main aim in forest mapping and monitoring is to produce accurate information for forest managers with the use of efficient methodologies. For example, it is important to locate harvesting sites and stands where forest operations should be carried out as well as to provide updates regarding forest growth, among other changes in forest structure. In recent years, remote sensing (RS) has taken a significant technological leap forward. It has become possible to acquire three-dimensional (3D), spatially accurate information from forest resources using active RS methods. In practical applications, mainly 3D information produced by airborne laser scanning (ALS) has opened up groundbreaking potential in natural resource mapping and monitoring. In addition to ALS, new satellite radars are also capable of acquiring spatially accurate 3D information. The main objectives of the present study were to develop 3D RS methodologies for large-area forest mapping and monitoring applications. In substudy I, we aim to map harvesting sites, while in substudy II, we monitor changes in the forest canopy structure. In studies III-V, efficient mapping and monitoring applications were developed and tested.In substudy I, we predicted plot-level thinning maturity within the next 10-year planning period. Stands requiring immediate thinning were located with an overall accuracy of 83%-86% depending on the prediction method applied. The respective prediction accuracy for stands reaching thinning maturity within the next 10 years was 70%-79%.Substudy II addressed natural disturbance monitoring that could be linked to forest management planning when an ALS time series is available. The accuracy of the damaged canopy cover area estimate varied between -16.4% to 5.4%. Substudy II showed that changes in the forest canopy structure can be monitored with a rather straightforward method by contrasting bi-temporal canopy height models.In substudy III, we developed a RS-based forest inventory method where single-tree RS is used to acquire modelling data needed in area-based predictions. The method uses ALS data and is capable of producing accurate stand variable estimates even at the sub-compartment level. The developed method could be applied in areas with sparse road networks or when the costs of fieldwork must be minimized. The method is especially suitable for largearea biomass or stem volume mapping.Based on substudy IV, the use of stereo synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite data in the prediction of plotlevel forest variables appears to be promising for large-area applications. In the best case, the plot-level stem volume (VOL) was predicted with a relative error (RMSE%) of 34.9%. Typically, such a high level of prediction accuracy cannot be obtained using spaceborne RS data. Then, in substudy V, we compared the aboveground biomass and VOL estimates derived by radargrammetry to the ALS estimates. The difference between the estimation accuracy of ALS-based and TerraSAR X-based features was smaller than in any previous study in which...

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Estimation of tree lists from airborne laser scanning by combining single-tree and area-based methods

Cited by 67 publications

References 36 publications

Comparison of Grid-Based and Segment-Based Estimation of Forest Attributes Using Airborne Laser Scanning and Digital Aerial Imagery

Comparison of Grid-Based and Segment-Based Estimation of Forest Attributes Using Airborne Laser Scanning and Digital Aerial Imagery

Airborne Laser Scanning to support forest resource management under alpine, temperate and Mediterranean environments in Italy

Forest mapping and monitoring using active 3D remote sensing

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