ESTIMATING SINGLE TREE STEM AND BRANCH BIOMASS USING TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING

2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (26) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurliyana Izzati Ishak ◽  
Md Afif Abu Bakar ◽  
Muhammad Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman ◽  
Abd Wahid Rasib ◽  
Kasturi Devi Kanniah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Biomass Estimation ◽  
Forest Plot ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Matching Process ◽  
Branch Biomass ◽  
Individual Trees ◽  
Tree Stem

This paper presents a novel non-destructive approach for individual tree stem and branch biomass estimation using terrestrial laser scanning data. The study area is located at the Royal Belum Reserved Forest area, Gerik, Perak. Each forest plot was designed with a circular shape and contains several scanning locations to ensure good visibility of each tree. Unique tree signage was located on trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) of 10cm and above.  Extractions of individual trees were done manually and the matching process with the field collected tree properties were relied on the tree signage and tree location as collected by total station. Individual tree stems were reconstructed based on cylinder models from which the total stem volume was calculated. Biomass of individual tree stems was calculated by multiplying stem volume with specific wood density. Biomass of individual was estimated using similar concept of tree stem with the volume estimated from alpha-hull shape. The root mean squared errors (RMSE) of estimated biomass are 50.22kg and 27.20kg for stem and branch respectively. 

scholarly journals Deriving Individual-Tree Biomass from Effective Crown Data Generated by Terrestrial Laser Scanning

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 2793
Author(s):  
Yujie Zheng ◽  
Weiwei Jia ◽  
Qiang Wang ◽  
Xu Huang
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Biomass Estimation ◽  
Tree Biomass ◽  
Crown Height ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Cloud Data ◽  
Biomass Equations

Biomass reflects the state of forest management and is critical for assessing forest benefits and carbon storage. The effective crown is the region above the lower limit of the forest crown that includes the maximum vertical distribution density of branches and leaves; this component plays an important role in tree growth. Adding the effective crown to biomass equations can enhance the accuracy of the derived biomass. Six sample plots in a larch plantation (ranging in area from 0.06 ha to 0.12 ha and in number of trees from 63 to 96) at the Mengjiagang forest farm in Huanan County, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province, China, were analyzed in this study. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was used to obtain three-dimensional point cloud data on the trees, from which crown parameters at different heights were extracted. These parameters were used to determine the position of the effective crown. Moreover, effective crown parameters were added to biomass equations with tree height as the sole variable to improve the accuracy of the derived individual-tree biomass estimates. The results showed that the minimum crown contact height was very similar to the effective crown height, and an increase in model accuracy was apparent (with R a 2 increasing from 0.846 to 0.910 and root-mean-square error (RMSE) decreasing from 0.372 kg to 0.286 kg). The optimal model for deriving biomass included tree height, crown length from minimum contact height, crown height from minimum contact height, and crown surface area from minimum contact height. The novelty of the article is that it improves the fit of individual-tree biomass models by adding crown-related variables and investigates how the accuracy of biomass estimation can be enhanced by using remote sensing methods without obtaining diameter at breast height.

Nondestructive Tree Stem and Crown Volume Allometry in Hybrid Poplar Plantations Derived from Terrestrial Laser Scanning

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 737-746
Author(s):  
Francesco Chianucci ◽  
Nicola Puletti ◽  
Mirko Grotti ◽  
Carlotta Ferrara ◽  
Achille Giorcelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Tree Crown ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Tree Inventory ◽  
Entry Models ◽  
Poplar Plantations ◽  
Volume Estimates ◽  
Tree Stem

Abstract Accurate and frequently updated tree volume estimates are required for poplar plantations, which are characterized by fast growth rate and short rotation. In this study, we tested the potential of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) as a reliable method for developing nondestructive tree volume allometries in poplar plantations. The trial was conducted in Italy, where 4- to 10-year-old hybrid plantations were sampled to develop tree crown volume allometry in leaf-on conditions, tree stem volume, and height-diameter allometries in leaf-off conditions. We tested one-entry models based on diameter and two-entry models based on both diameter and height. Model performance was assessed by residual analysis. Results indicate that TLS can provide accurate models of tree stem and crown volume, with percentage of root-mean-square error of about 20 percent and 15 percent, respectively. The inclusion of height does not bring relevant improvement in the models, so that only diameter can be used to predict tree stem and crown volume. The TLS-measured stem volume estimates agreed with an available formula derived from harvesting. We concluded that TLS is a reliable method for developing nondestructive volume allometries in poplar plantations and holds great potential to enhance conventional tree inventory and monitoring. Study Implications: Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) is a technique that allows nondestructive measurement of the three-dimensional structure of a tree with high precision and low cost. The ability of TLS to measure both tree crown volume and tree position can be effective to test optimal spacing requirements and also to test innovative schemes such as mixed or polycyclic poplar plantations. The spatially explicit nature of TLS measurements allows better integration with different remotely sensed sensors, which can be used in combination with TLS, enabling a multiscale assessment of poplar plantation structure with different levels of detail, enhancing conventional tree inventory and supporting effective management strategies.

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

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 550
Author(s):  
Dandan Xu ◽  
Haobin Wang ◽  
Weixin Xu ◽  
Zhaoqing Luan ◽  
Xia Xu
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Forest Biomass ◽  
Remotely Sensed ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Biomass Estimation ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Individual Trees

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.

scholarly journals THE EFFECT OF WIND ON TREE STEM PARAMETER ESTIMATION USING TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING

2016 ◽  
Vol III-8 ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Vaaja ◽  
J.-P. Virtanen ◽  
M. Kurkela ◽  
V. Lehtola ◽  
J. Hyyppä ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parameter Estimation ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Finnish Meteorological Institute ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Forest Inventories ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Tree Stem

The 3D measurement technique of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) in forest inventories has shown great potential for improving the accuracy and efficiency of both individual tree and plot level data collection. However, the effect of wind has been poorly estimated in the error analysis of TLS tree measurements although it causes varying deformations to the trees. In this paper, we evaluated the effect of wind on tree stem parameter estimation at different heights using TLS. The data consists of one measured Scots pine captured from three different scanning directions with two different scanning resolutions, 6.3 mm and 3.1 mm at 10 m. The measurements were conducted under two different wind speeds, approximately 3 m/s and 9 m/s, as recorded by a nearby weather station of the Finnish Meteorological Institute. Our results show that the wind may cause both the underestimation and overestimation of tree diameter when using TLS. The duration of the scanning is found to have an impact for the measured shape of the tree stem under 9 m/s wind conditions. The results also indicate that a 9 m/s wind does not have a significant effect on the stem parameters of the lower part of a tree (<28% of the tree height). However, as the results imply, the wind conditions should be taken into account more comprehensively in analysis of TLS tree measurements, especially if multiple scans from different positions are registered together. In addition, TLS could potentially be applied to indirectly measure wind speed by observing the tree stem movement.

scholarly journals Quantification of occlusions influencing the tree stem curve retrieving from single-scan terrestrial laser scanning data

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Wan ◽  
Tiejun Wang ◽  
Wuming Zhang ◽  
Xinlian Liang ◽  
Andrew K. Skidmore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Forest Plot ◽  
Curve Estimation ◽  
Standing Trees ◽  
Occlusion Rate

Abstract Background The stem curve of standing trees is an essential parameter for accurate estimation of stem volume. This study aims to directly quantify the occlusions within the single-scan terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data, evaluate its correlation with the accuracy of the retrieved stem curves, and subsequently, to assess the capacity of single-scan TLS to estimate stem curves. Methods We proposed an index, occlusion rate, to quantify the occlusion level in TLS data. We then analyzed three influencing factors for the occlusion rate: the percentage of basal area near the scanning center, the scanning distance and the source of occlusions. Finally, we evaluated the effects of occlusions on stem curve estimates from single-scan TLS data. Results The results showed that the correlations between the occlusion rate and the stem curve estimation accuracies were strong (r = 0.60–0.83), so was the correlations between the occlusion rate and its influencing factors (r = 0.84–0.99). It also showed that the occlusions from tree stems were the main factor of the low detection rate of stems, while the non-stem components mainly influenced the completeness of the retrieved stem curves. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that the occlusions significantly affect the accuracy of stem curve retrieval from the single-scan TLS data in a typical-size (32 m × 32 m) forest plot. However, the single-scan mode has the capacity to accurately estimate the stem curve in a small forest plot (< 10 m × 10 m) or a plot with a lower occlusion rate, such as less than 35% in our tested datasets. The findings from this study are useful for guiding the practice of retrieving forest parameters using single-scan TLS data.

Individual tree biomass estimation using terrestrial laser scanning

2013 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 64-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ville Kankare ◽  
Markus Holopainen ◽  
Mikko Vastaranta ◽  
Eetu Puttonen ◽  
Xiaowei Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Biomass Estimation ◽  
Tree Biomass ◽  
Individual Tree

scholarly journals THE EFFECT OF WIND ON TREE STEM PARAMETER ESTIMATION USING TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING

2016 ◽  
Vol III-8 ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Vaaja ◽  
J.-P. Virtanen ◽  
M. Kurkela ◽  
V. Lehtola ◽  
J. Hyyppä ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parameter Estimation ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Finnish Meteorological Institute ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Forest Inventories ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Tree Stem

The 3D measurement technique of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) in forest inventories has shown great potential for improving the accuracy and efficiency of both individual tree and plot level data collection. However, the effect of wind has been poorly estimated in the error analysis of TLS tree measurements although it causes varying deformations to the trees. In this paper, we evaluated the effect of wind on tree stem parameter estimation at different heights using TLS. The data consists of one measured Scots pine captured from three different scanning directions with two different scanning resolutions, 6.3 mm and 3.1 mm at 10 m. The measurements were conducted under two different wind speeds, approximately 3 m/s and 9 m/s, as recorded by a nearby weather station of the Finnish Meteorological Institute. Our results show that the wind may cause both the underestimation and overestimation of tree diameter when using TLS. The duration of the scanning is found to have an impact for the measured shape of the tree stem under 9 m/s wind conditions. The results also indicate that a 9 m/s wind does not have a significant effect on the stem parameters of the lower part of a tree (&lt;28% of the tree height). However, as the results imply, the wind conditions should be taken into account more comprehensively in analysis of TLS tree measurements, especially if multiple scans from different positions are registered together. In addition, TLS could potentially be applied to indirectly measure wind speed by observing the tree stem movement.

scholarly journals The Horizontal Distribution of Branch Biomass in European Beech: A Model Based on Measurements and TLS Based Proxies

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1041
Author(s):  
César Pérez-Cruzado ◽  
Christoph Kleinn ◽  
Paul Magdon ◽  
Juan Gabriel Álvarez-González ◽  
Steen Magnussen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Model ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Horizontal Distribution ◽  
Forest Monitoring ◽  
Projection Area ◽  
Biomass Estimation ◽  
Tree Biomass ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Individual Trees

Forest biomass is currently among the most important and most researched target variables in forest monitoring. The common approach of observing individual tree biomass in forest inventory is to assign the total tree biomass to the dimensionless point of the tree position. However, the tree biomass, in particular in the crown, is horizontally distributed above the crown projection area. This horizontal distribution of individual tree biomass (HBD) has not attracted much attention—but if quantified, it can improve biomass estimation and help to better represent the spatial distribution of forest fuel. In this study, we derive a first empirical model of the branch HBD for individual trees of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). We destructively measured 23 beech trees to derive an empirical model for the branch HBD. We then applied Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) to a subset of 17 trees to test a simple point cloud metric predicting the branch HBD. We observed similarities between a branch HBD and commonly applied taper functions, which inspired our HBD model formulations. The models performed well in representing the HBD both for the measured biomass, and the TLS-based metric. Our models may be used as first approximations to the HBD of individual trees—while our methodological approach may extend to trees of different sizes and species.

scholarly journals Developing Allometric Equations for Teak Plantations Located in the Coastal Region of Ecuador from Terrestrial Laser Scanning Data

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando J. Aguilar ◽  
Abderrahim Nemmaoui ◽  
Alberto Peñalver ◽  
José R. Rivas ◽  
Manuel A. Aguilar
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Automatic Data ◽  
Allometric Models ◽  
Teak Plantations ◽  
Tree Stem

Traditional studies aimed at developing allometric models to estimate dry above-ground biomass (AGB) and other tree-level variables, such as tree stem commercial volume (TSCV) or tree stem volume (TSV), usually involves cutting down the trees. Although this method has low uncertainty, it is quite costly and inefficient since it requires a very time-consuming field work. In order to assist in data collection and processing, remote sensing is allowing the application of non-destructive sampling methods such as that based on terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). In this work, TLS-derived point clouds were used to digitally reconstruct the tree stem of a set of teak trees (Tectona grandis Linn. F.) from 58 circular reference plots of 18 m radius belonging to three different plantations located in the Coastal Region of Ecuador. After manually selecting the appropriate trees from the entire sample, semi-automatic data processing was performed to provide measurements of TSCV and TSV, together with estimates of AGB values at tree level. These observed values were used to develop allometric models, based on diameter at breast height (DBH), total tree height (h), or the metric DBH2 × h, by applying a robust regression method to remove likely outliers. Results showed that the developed allometric models performed reasonably well, especially those based on the metric DBH2 × h, providing low bias estimates and relative RMSE values of 21.60% and 16.41% for TSCV and TSV, respectively. Allometric models only based on tree height were derived from replacing DBH by h in the expression DBH2 x h, according to adjusted expressions depending on DBH classes (ranges of DBH). This finding can facilitate the obtaining of variables such as AGB (carbon stock) and commercial volume of wood over teak plantations in the Coastal Region of Ecuador from only knowing the tree height, constituting a promising method to address large-scale teak plantations monitoring from the canopy height models derived from digital aerial stereophotogrammetry.

scholarly journals Revealing Changes in the Stem Form and Volume Allocation in Diverse Boreal Forests Using Two-Date Terrestrial Laser Scanning

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 835
Author(s):  
Ville Luoma ◽  
Tuomas Yrttimaa ◽  
Ville Kankare ◽  
Ninni Saarinen ◽  
Jiri Pyörälä ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Growth ◽  
Point Cloud ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Stem Form ◽  
Monitoring Period ◽  
Significant Difference

Tree growth is a multidimensional process that is affected by several factors. There is a continuous demand for improved information on tree growth and the ecological traits controlling it. This study aims at providing new approaches to improve ecological understanding of tree growth by the means of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). Changes in tree stem form and stem volume allocation were investigated during a five-year monitoring period. In total, a selection of attributes from 736 trees from 37 sample plots representing different forest structures were extracted from taper curves derived from two-date TLS point clouds. The results of this study showed the capability of point cloud-based methods in detecting changes in the stem form and volume allocation. In addition, the results showed a significant difference between different forest structures in how relative stem volume and logwood volume increased during the monitoring period. Along with contributing to providing more accurate information for monitoring purposes in general, the findings of this study showed the ability and many possibilities of point cloud-based method to characterize changes in living organisms in particular, which further promote the feasibility of using point clouds as an observation method also in ecological studies.

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