From points to numbers: a database-driven approach to convert terrestrial LiDAR point clouds to tree volumes

Hildebrandt, Rüdiger; Iost, André

doi:10.1007/s10342-012-0638-1

Cited by 23 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Although our dataset represents a significant improvement over previously published intercomparisons of tree harvest data, they are still limited in size, especially compared with those developed for temperate forests (Chojnacky et al ., ) or plantations (Paul et al ., ). One option for assembling whole‐tree AGB measurements without harvesting the tree is to use terrestrial LiDAR to estimate the volume of individual branches and stems (Hildebrandt & Iost, ). With additional wood specific gravity measurements, it should be possible to estimate tree AGB to a good accuracy without felling the tree.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved allometric models to estimate the aboveground biomass of tropical trees

Chave

Réjou‐Méchain

Búrquez

et al. 2014

Global Change Biology

2,104

2,150

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Terrestrial carbon stock mapping is important for the successful implementation of climate change mitigation policies. Its accuracy depends on the availability of reliable allometric models to infer oven-dry aboveground biomass of trees from census data. The degree of uncertainty associated with previously published pantropical aboveground biomass allometries is large. We analyzed a global database of directly harvested trees at 58 sites, spanning a wide range of climatic conditions and vegetation types (4004 trees ≥ 5 cm trunk diameter). When trunk diameter, total tree height, and wood specific gravity were included in the aboveground biomass model as covariates, a single model was found to hold across tropical vegetation types, with no detectable effect of region or environmental factors. The mean percent bias and variance of this model was only slightly higher than that of locally fitted models. Wood specific gravity was an important predictor of aboveground biomass, especially when including a much broader range of vegetation types than previous studies. The generic tree diameter-height relationship depended linearly on a bioclimatic stress variable E, which compounds indices of temperature variability, precipitation variability, and drought intensity. For cases in which total tree height is unavailable for aboveground biomass estimation, a pantropical model incorporating wood density, trunk diameter, and the variable E outperformed previously published models without height. However, to minimize bias, the development of locally derived diameter-height relationships is advised whenever possible. Both new allometric models should contribute to improve the accuracy of biomass assessment protocols in tropical vegetation types, and to advancing our understanding of architectural and evolutionary constraints on woody plant development.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved allometric models to estimate the aboveground biomass of tropical trees

Chave

Réjou‐Méchain

Búrquez

et al. 2014

Global Change Biology

2,104

2,150

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The limiting factor has always been destructive sampling of the trees for adjusting and selecting the models. Highly accurate volume and biomass estimates of individual trees are increasingly available through Lidar technology (Estornell et al 2011(Estornell et al , 2012Hildebrandt and Iost 2012). These estimates do not require destructive sampling of trees and can be carried out systematically in the field (Duncanson et al 2017;Duncanson and Dubayah 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prediction of Biomass in Dry Tropical Forests: An Approach on the Importance of Total Height in the Development of Local and Pan-tropical Models

Oliveira

Ferreira

Silva

et al. 2021

Journal of Sustainable Forestry

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Background: Dry tropical forests in arid lands cover large areas in Brazil, but few studies report the total biomass stock showing the importance of height measurements, in addition to applying and comparing local and pan-tropical models of biomass prediction for the domain of trees and shrubs found in that environment. Here, we use a biomass data set of 500 trees and shrubs, covering 15 species harvested in a management plan in the state of Pernambuco, in Brazil. We seek to develop local models and compare them with the equations traditionally applied to dry forests-showing the importance of tree height measurements. Due to the non-linear relationships with the independent variables of the tree, we used a nonlinear least squares modeling technique when adjusting models, we adopted the cross-validation procedure. The selection of the models was based on the likelihood measures (AIC), total explained variation (R2) and forecast error (RSE, RMSE and Bias). Results: In summary, our above-ground biomass data set is best represented by the Schumacher-Hall equation: exp [3.5336 + 1.9126 × log (D) + 1.2438 × log (Ht)], which shows that height measurements are essential to estimate accurately biomass. The biggest prediction errors observed when testing pan-tropical models in our data demonstrated the importance of developing new local models and indicated that careful considerations should be made if generic "pantropical" models without height measurements are planned for application in dry forests in Brazil. Conclusions: Thus, local equations can be used for carbon accounting in REDD + and sustainable incentive projects that initiate the development of dry forests and assess ecosystem services.

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“…Tree volume and AGB estimation at the individual tree scale strongly rely on trees being accurately delineated and segmented, and great efforts were made in this work to improve model accuracy to this end. In early models, only cylindrical sections were identified in TLS point clouds because tree stand volumes were estimated based on simple tree stem models [64]. Quantitative Structure Model (QSM) and Outer Hull Model (QHM) were widely used for trunk volume estimation [57,65].…”

Section: Terrestrial Laser Scanning (Tls)mentioning

confidence: 99%

LiDAR Applications to Estimate Forest Biomass at Individual Tree Scale: Opportunities, Challenges and Future Perspectives

Wang

et al. 2021

Forests

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Accurate forest biomass estimation at the individual tree scale is the foundation of timber industry and forest management. It plays an important role in explaining ecological issues and small-scale processes. Remotely sensed images, across a range of spatial and temporal resolutions, with their advantages of non-destructive monitoring, are widely applied in forest biomass monitoring at global, ecoregion or community scales. However, the development of remote sensing applications for forest biomass at the individual tree scale has been relatively slow due to the constraints of spatial resolution and evaluation accuracy of remotely sensed data. With the improvements in platforms and spatial resolutions, as well as the development of remote sensing techniques, the potential for forest biomass estimation at the single tree level has been demonstrated. However, a comprehensive review of remote sensing of forest biomass scaled at individual trees has not been done. This review highlights the theoretical bases, challenges and future perspectives for Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) applications of individual trees scaled to whole forests. We summarize research on estimating individual tree volume and aboveground biomass (AGB) using Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Laser Scanning (UAV-LS) and Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS, including Vehicle-borne Laser Scanning (VLS) and Backpack Laser Scanning (BLS)) data.

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From points to numbers: a database-driven approach to convert terrestrial LiDAR point clouds to tree volumes

Cited by 23 publications

References 13 publications

Improved allometric models to estimate the aboveground biomass of tropical trees

Improved allometric models to estimate the aboveground biomass of tropical trees

Prediction of Biomass in Dry Tropical Forests: An Approach on the Importance of Total Height in the Development of Local and Pan-tropical Models

LiDAR Applications to Estimate Forest Biomass at Individual Tree Scale: Opportunities, Challenges and Future Perspectives

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