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Computer-based synthetic data to assess the tree delineation algorithm from airborne LiDAR survey

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Abstract

Small Footprint LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) has been proposed as an effective tool for measuring detailed biophysical characteristics of forests over broad spatial scales. However, by itself LiDAR yields only a sample of the true 3D structure of a forest. In order to extract useful forestry relevant information, this data must be interpreted using mathematical models and computer algorithms that infer or estimate specific forest metrics. For these outputs to be useful, algorithms must be validated and/or calibrated using a sub-sample of ‘known’ metrics measured using more detailed, reliable methods such as field sampling. In this paper we describe a novel method for delineating and deriving metrics of individual trees from LiDAR data based on watershed segmentation. Because of the costs involved with collecting both LiDAR data and field samples for validation, we use synthetic LiDAR data to validate and assess the accuracy of our algorithm. This synthetic LiDAR data is generated using a simple geometric model of Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) trees and a simulation of LiDAR sampling. Our results suggest that point densities greater than 2 and preferably greater than 4 points per m2 are necessary to obtain accurate forest inventory data from Loblolly pine stands. However the results also demonstrate that the detection errors (i.e. the accuracy and biases of the algorithm) are intrinsically related to the structural characteristics of the forest being measured. We argue that experiments with synthetic data are directly useful to forest managers to guide the design of operational forest inventory studies. In addition, we argue that the development of LiDAR simulation models and experiments with the data they generate represents a fundamental and useful approach to designing, improving and exploring the accuracy and efficiency of LiDAR algorithms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography & Anthropology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Lei Wang

  2. Knowledge Engineering Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Andrew G. Birt, Robert N. Coulson & Maria D. Tchakerian

  3. Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Charles W. Lafon & David M. Cairns

  4. Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Weimin Xi

  5. Spatial Sciences Laboratory, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77845, USA

    Sorin C. Popescu

  6. Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Hot Springs, AR, 71901, USA

    James M. Guldin

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  1. Lei Wang
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Correspondence to Lei Wang.

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Wang, L., Birt, A.G., Lafon, C.W. et al. Computer-based synthetic data to assess the tree delineation algorithm from airborne LiDAR survey. Geoinformatica 17, 35–61 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10707-011-0148-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10707-011-0148-1

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