Monitoring geometric properties of an existing forest road using airborne Lidar data

Abstract

Matinnia B., Parsakhoo A., Mohammadi J., Shataee Jouibari S. (2017): Monitoring geometric properties of an existing forest road using airborne Lidar data. J. For. Sci., Accurate information about geometric properties of a forest road is essential for the sustainable forestry and transportation safety. In this study the ability of airborne Lidar in detecting vertical and horizontal profiles and cross section elements of a forest road was investigated in a deciduous forest of Hyrcanian zone. Moreover, Lidar-derived road data was compared with field surveyed data by Leica Total Station device. The results indicated that the average error of Lidar in assessing vertical and horizontal profiles of the existing road was 0.57 m and 4.9°, respectively. The average error of Lidar in detecting the roadbed was 0.78 m. Lidar had an average error of 1.36% in assessing the longitudinal gradient. Based on findings of this study it was concluded that geometric properties of existing forest roads can be monitored rapidly under dense tree canopy using high-resolution Lidar data and without field survey.

Monitoring Critical Infrastructure Using 3D LiDAR Point Clouds

“…It is necessary for transportation control safety purposes to have access to reliable data that contains the road's geometric properties such as a slope gradient, travel width, and curve radius. According to [51], geometric properties are detectable by applying a 3D auto-detection technique using LiDAR data.…”

“…More specifically, for the forest road, LiDAR is able to detect ground points below the masked surfaces. Hence, nowadays, LiDAR systems are counted as strong tools in forest road monitoring [51].…”

Perceived Usefulness of Airborne LiDAR Technology in Road Design and Management: A Review

“…B. Matinnia et al [16] used the triangular irregular networks (TIN) algorithm to generate geometric alignments and road cross-sections using LiDAR DEMs in Autocad Civil 3D road design software. This study shows that the geometric parameters of horizontal and vertical roads can be generated under dense canopy without conducting a field survey.…”

“…In the development of road designs in wooded, thick-canopied, and mountainous areas, airborne LiDAR can provide very intensive terrain data. Studies conducted by B. Matinnia et al [16] found that the remarkable accuracy of LiDAR data aids road design by representing the vertical and horizontal alignment of the road without time-consuming field surveying methods in broad areas. Meanwhile, B.P Reis et al [92] showed that LiDAR can produce main images in places with dense tree cover to sustain forest regeneration followed by road network design to avoid this area in order to save the environment.…”

“…Due to time constraints, only a limited number of points can be measured [3] in this survey. When topographical differences between survey stations are disregarded, the design of curved roadways can be challenging in terms of the steepness of the horizontal profile, and the incorrect estimation of the earthwork volume may occur [16,17] at the same time. Apart from that, there is also incomplete measurement data information due to the constraints encountered during the field survey [18].…”