Cartosat-1 height product and ICESat/GLAS data for digital elevation surface generation

Space born systems like Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) onboard collect data for ice, cloud and Land. Elevation satellite (ICESat) collects an unparalleled data set as waveform over terrestrial targets, helps in evaluating the global elevation data. In this study we compared the Digital Elevation Surface (DES) generated by Cartosat-1 point data and DES generated by merging the Cartosat-1 data with ICESat data. Outputs in the form of interpolated surfaces were evaluated with the help of differential global positioning system (DGPS) points collected from study area. The study showed the results that the DES generated from Cartosat — 1 data had less elevation accuracy when compared with the DGPS data. While merging Cartosat-1 point height data with ICESat/GLAS data resulted in better accuracy. On the practical side for processing the interpolation, based on the research the ICESat /GLAS with Cartosat-1 height data can produce better DES compared to the Cartosat-1 stereo data. The DES was generated using geostatistical interpolation methods in which the global polynomial method proved to be the better for generating the surface compare to other interpolation techniques studied in this work. For co-kriging method, the accuracy decreases compare to the kriging interpolation, due to the complexity of parameters that were used for interpolation. On the theory side, based on this research the statement of which interpolation technique is better than the other cannot be mentioned easily, because these are based on the data type, parameters and also on method of interpolation. So research experiment should be more intensely and with more focused.     

基于ICESatGLAS的云南省森林地上生物量反演

结合机载、星载激光雷达对GLAS(地球科学激光测高系统)光斑范围内的森林地上生物量进行估测,并利用MODIS植被产品以及MERIS土地覆盖产品进行了云南省森林地上生物量的连续制图。机载LiDAR扫描的260个训练样本用于构建星载GLAS的森林地上生物量估测模型,模型的决定系数(R2)为0.52,均方根误差(RMSE)为31Mg/ha。研究结果显示,云南省总森林地上生物量为12.72亿t,平均森林地上生物量为94Mg/ha。估测的森林地上生物量空间分布情况与实际情况相符,森林地上生物量总量与基于森林资源清查数据的估测结果相符,表明了利用机载LiDAR与星载ICESatGLAS结合进行大区域森林地上生物量估测的可靠性。     

A novel approach to estimate canopy height using ICESat/GLAS data: A case study in the New Forest National Park,UK

The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) aboard Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) is a spaceborne LiDAR sensor. It is the first LiDAR instrument which can digitize the backscattered waveform and offer near global coverage. Among others, scientific objectives of the mission include precise measurement of vegetation canopy heights. Existing approaches of waveform processing for canopy height estimation suggest Gaussian decomposition of the waveform which has the limitation to properly characterize significant peaks and results in discrepant information. Moreover, in most cases, Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) are required for canopy height estimation. This paper presents a new automated method of GLAS waveform processing for extracting vegetation canopy height in the absence of a DTM. Canopy heights retrieved from GLAS waveforms were validated with field measured heights. The newly proposed method was able to explain 79% of variation in canopy heights with an RMSE of 3.18 m, in the study area. The unexplained variation in canopy heights retrieved from GLAS data can be due to errors introduced by footprint eccentricity, decay of energy between emitted and received signals, uncertainty in the field measurements and limited number of sampled footprints.Results achieved with the newly proposed method were encouraging and demonstrated its potential of processing full-waveform LiDAR data for estimating forest canopy height. The study also had implications on future full-waveform spaceborne missions and their utility in vegetation studies.     

Forest canopy height estimation using ICESat/GLAS data and error factor analysis in Hokkaido,Japan

Spaceborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) enables us to obtain information about vertical forest structure directly, and it has often been used to measure forest canopy height or above-ground biomass. However, little attention has been given to comparisons of the accuracy of the different estimation methods of canopy height or to the evaluation of the error factors in canopy height estimation. In this study, we tested three methods of estimating canopy height using the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) onboard NASA’s Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), and evaluated several factors that affected accuracy. Our study areas were Tomakomai and Kushiro, two forested areas on Hokkaido in Japan. The accuracy of the canopy height estimates was verified by ground-based measurements. We also conducted a multivariate analysis using quantification theory type I (multiple-regression analysis of qualitative data) and identified the observation conditions that had a large influence on estimation accuracy. The method using the digital elevation model was the most accurate, with a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 3.2 m. However, GLAS data with a low signal-to-noise ratio (⩽10.0) and that taken from September to October 2009 had to be excluded from the analysis because the estimation accuracy of canopy height was remarkably low. After these data were excluded, the multivariate analysis showed that surface slope had the greatest effect on estimation accuracy, and the accuracy dropped the most in steeply sloped areas. We developed a second model with two equations to estimate canopy height depending on the surface slope, which improved estimation accuracy (RMSE = 2.8 m). These results should prove useful and provide practical suggestions for estimating forest canopy height using spaceborne LiDAR.     

多源DEM融合的高差拟合神经网络方法

本文侧重于介绍智能化摄影测量机器学习的高差拟合神经网络方法。观测手段和处理方式等限制导致全球高质量无缝DEM数据的缺乏,进而制约了它在水文、地质、气象及军事等领域的应用。本文提出了一种基于高差拟合神经网络的多源DEM融合方法,尝试融合全球DEM产品SRTM1、ASTER GDEM v2和激光雷达测高数据ICESat GLAS。首先,根据ICESat GLAS的相关参数及与DEM数据的高程差值,结合坡度自适应的思想设置高差阈值对ICESat GLAS进行滤波,剔除异常数据点。然后,以ICESat GLAS数据为控制点,利用神经网络模型拟合ASTER GDEM v2的误差分布。以地形坡度信息和经纬度坐标作为网络输入,ICESat GLAS和ASTER GDEM v2的高程差值作为目标输出,训练得到预测高差,将其与ASTER GDEM v2高程值相加即可获得校正结果。最后,引入TIN差分曲面的方法,利用校正后的ASTER GDEM v2高程值对SRTM1的数据空洞进行填充,融合生成空间无缝DEM。本文通过随机选取数据进行真实试验,对模型进行了精度验证,并给出了处理结果的定量评价和目视效果。结果表明,不论是空洞还是整体区域,本文方法相比其他DEM数据集和其他方法的处理结果都能够在RMSE上表现出优势,同时,本文提出的方法能够有效克服ASTER GDEM中异常值的影响,得到空间无缝DEM。     

多准则约束的ICESat/GLAS高程控制点筛选

激光测高卫星在获取全球高程控制点方面具有独特的优势,本文针对ICESat(Ice,Cloud and land Elevation Satellite)卫星上搭载的地球激光测高系统GLAS(Geo-science Laser Altimetry System),提出了一种多准则约束的高程控制点筛选算法。算法综合利用全球公开版的SRTM(Shuttle Radar Topography Mission)DEM数据对GLAS进行粗差剔除,然后利用GLA14产品中的云量、姿态质量标记、饱和度参数、增益参数等多种与测距有关的属性参数进行粗粒度的筛选,保留受云层、大气、地表反射率等影响较小的激光足印点,最后结合GLA01的波形特征参数做进一步精细筛选,提取出高精度的激光点作为高程控制点。本文还采用天津、河北两个实验区的数据,利用高精度的DEM成果数据对筛选的结果进行了验证。实验结果表明,经多准则约束筛选后的激光足印点具有很高的高程精度,能够作为1∶50000甚至1∶10000立体测图时的高程控制点使用,研究结论可为国产高分辨率卫星在境外地区进行无地面控制点的立体测图提供参考。     

An improved method for estimating forest canopy height using ICESat-GLAS full waveform data over sloping terrain: A case study in Changbai mountains,China

Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) has a unique capability for estimating forest canopy height, which has a direct relationship with, and can provide better understanding of the aboveground forest carbon storage. The full waveform data of the large-footprint LiDAR Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) onboard the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), combined with field measurements of forest canopy height, were employed to achieve improved estimates of forest canopy height over sloping terrain in the Changbai mountains region, China. With analyzing ground-truth experiments, the study proposed an improved model over Lefsky's model to predict maximum canopy height using the logarithmic transformation of waveform extent and elevation change as independent variables. While Lefsky's model explained 8–89% of maximum canopy height variation in the study area, the improved model explained 56–92% of variation within the 0–30° terrain slope category. The results reveal that the improved model can reduce the mixed effects caused by both sloping terrain and rough land surface, and make a significant improvement for accurately estimating maximum canopy height over sloping terrain.     

Validation of Indian National DEM from Cartosat-1 Data

CartoDEM is an Indian National DEM generated from Cartosat-1 stereo data. Cartosat-1, launched in May, 2005, is an along track (aft ?5°, Fore +26°) stereo with 2.5 m GSD, give base-height ratio of 0.63 with 27 km swath. The operational procedure of DEM generation comprises stereo strip triangulation of 500?×?27 km segment with 10 m posting along with 2.5 m resolution ortho image and free—access posting of 30 m has been made available (bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in). A multi approach evaluation of CartoDEM comprising (a) absolute accuracy with respect to ground control points for two sites namely Jagatsinghpur -flat and Dharamshala- hilly; second site i.e. Alwar-plain and hilly with high resolution aerial DEM, (b) relative difference between SRTM and ASTERDEM (c) absolute accuracy with ICESat GLAS for two sites namely Jagatsinghpur-plain and Netravathi river, Western Ghats-hilly (d) relative comparison of drainage delineation with respect to ASTERDEM is reported here. The absolute height accuracy in flat terrain was 4.7 m with horizontal accuracy of 7.3 m, while in hilly terrain it was 7 m height with a horizontal accuracy of 14 m. While comparison with ICESat GLAS data absolute height difference of plain and hilly was 5.2 m and 7.9 m respectively. When compared to SRTM over Indian landmass, 90 % of pixels reported were within ±8 m difference. The drainage delineation shows better accuracy and clear demarcation of catchment ridgeline and more reliable flow-path prediction in comparison with ASTER. The results qualify Indian DEM for using it operationally which is equivalent and better than the other publicly available DEMs like SRTM and ASTERDEM.     

基于星载激光雷达和雷达高度计数据的南极冰盖表面高程制图

南极数字高程模型DEMs(Digital Elevation Models)是研究极区大气环流模式,南极冰盖动态变化和南极科学考察非常重要的基础数据。目前,科学家已经发布了五种不同的南极数字表面高程模型。这些数据都是由卫星雷达高度计,激光雷达和部分地面实测数据等制作而成。尽管如此,由于海洋与冰盖交接的南极冰盖边缘区随时间的快速变化,有必要根据新的卫星数据及时更新南极冰盖表面高程数据。因此,我们利用雷达高度计数据(Envisat RA-2)和激光雷达数据(ICESat/GLAS)制作了最新的南极冰盖高程数据。为提高ICESat/GLAS数据的精度,本文采用了五种不同的质量控制指标对GLAS数据进行处理,滤除了8.36%的不合格数据。这五种质量控制指标分别针对卫星定位误差、大气前向散射、饱和度及云的影响。同时,对Envisat RA-2数据进行干湿对流层纠正、电离层纠正、固体潮汐纠正和极潮纠正。针对两种不同的测高数据,提出了一种基于Envisat RA-2和GLAS数据光斑脚印几何相交的高程相对纠正方法,即通过分析GLAS脚印点与Envisat RA-2数据中心点重叠的点对,建立这些相交点对的高度差(GLAS-RA-2)与表征地形起伏的粗糙度之间的相关关系,对具有稳定相关关系的点对进行Envisat RA-2数据的相对纠正。通过分析南极冰盖不同区域的测高点密度,确定最终DEM的分辨率为1000 m。考虑到南极普里兹湾和内陆地区的差异性,将南极冰盖分为16个区,利用半方差分析确定最佳插值模型和参数,采用克吕金插值方法生成了1000 m分辨率的南极冰盖高程数据。利用两种机载激光雷达数据和我国多次南极科考实测的GPS数据对新的南极DEM进行了验证。结果显示,新的DEM与实测数据的差值范围为3.21—27.84 m,其误差分布与坡度密切关系。与国际上发布的南极DEM数据相比,新的DEM在坡度较大地区和快速变化的冰盖边缘地区精度有较大改进。     

Assessment of terrain elevation derived from satellite laser altimetry over mountainous forest areas using airborne lidar data

Gaussian decomposition has been used to extract terrain elevation from waveforms of the satellite lidar GLAS (Geoscience Laser Altimeter System), on board ICESat (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite). The common assumption is that one of the extracted Gaussian peaks, especially the lowest one, corresponds to the ground. However, Gaussian decomposition is usually complicated due to the broadened signals from both terrain and objects above over sloped areas. It is a critical and pressing research issue to quantify and understand the correspondence between Gaussian peaks and ground elevation. This study uses ～2000 km² airborne lidar data to assess the lowest two GLAS Gaussian peaks for terrain elevation estimation over mountainous forest areas in North Carolina. Airborne lidar data were used to extract not only ground elevation, but also terrain and canopy features such as slope and canopy height. Based on the analysis of a total of ～500 GLAS shots, it was found that (1) the lowest peak tends to underestimate ground elevation; terrain steepness (slope) and canopy height have the highest correlation with the underestimation, (2) the second to the lowest peak is, on average, closer to the ground elevation over mountainous forest areas, and (3) the stronger peak among the lowest two is closest to the ground for both open terrain and mountainous forest areas. It is expected that this assessment will shed light on future algorithm improvements and/or better use of the GLAS products for terrain elevation estimation.     

利用激光雷达和多角度频谱成像仪数据估测森林垂直参数

植被的结构参数如植被高度、生物量、水平和垂直分布等，是影响陆地与大气能量交换乃至生物圈多样性的重要因素。多数遥感系统虽然可以提供植被水平结构的图像，但是不能提供植被成分垂直分布的信息。大尺度激光雷达仪器如LVIS产生的激光雷达信号，已成功地用于估计树高和森林生物量，然而大多数激光雷达仪器不具备图像能力，只能提供一个区域内的采样数据。其他的遥感数据如多角度高光谱、多频率多时相辐射计或雷达数据，可根据GLAS（Geoscience Laser Altimeter System）采样的测量用来推断出连续的森林结构区域覆盖参数。 MISR（Multi-angle Imaging Spectrometer）对陆表多角度的成像能力，可以通过BRDF的各向异性提供植被的结构信息。结合激光雷达的垂直采样和MISR的图像，区域内乃至全球性的森林空间参数的成像是可能的。ICESat卫星上的GLAS数据、Terra卫星上的MISR数据为区域或全球性森林结构参数提供了可能。本文的研究目的是评估GLAS数据，分析类似于MISR的数据对森林结构参数的估计能力。本文中使用了LVIS、AirMISR和GLAS数据。通过对GLAS树高的测量与GLAS像元内来自LVIS的平均树高对比，发现它们是高度相关的。同时还探讨了多角度频谱成像仪数据预测树高信息的能力，这将在今后区域内森林结构参数映射加以研究。     

多源遥感数据支持下的区域性森林冠层高度估测

结合机载LiDAR数据,提出了一种改进的GLAS光斑点冠层高度地形校正模型,以校正后的GLAS光斑点作为输入样本,结合MODIS遥感影像,利用支持向量回归（SVR）的方法对研究区森林冠层高度进行分生态区估测,并利用野外调查数据和机载LiDAR冠层高度结果对估测结果进行验证。结果显示:研究区的坡度等级直接影响GLAS光斑点森林冠层高度估测精度,改进的地形校正模型可以较好的减小坡度对GLAS光斑点森林冠层高度估测的影响,模型精度RMSE稳定在3.25~3.48 m;不同生态分区的SVR模型估测精度较为稳定,其RMSE=6.41~7.56 m;与算数平均高相比,样地的Lorey's高与制图结果拟合最好,不同生态分区平均估测精度为80.3%。机载LiDAR冠层高度结果的验证平均精度为79.5%,和Lorey's高验证结果呈现较好的一致性。     

卫星激光测高严密几何模型构建及精度初步验证

采用星载激光测高仪辅助提高卫星立体影像几何定位精度特别是高程精度,已经得到了航天摄影测量界的重视,计划于2018年发射的高分七号卫星上将同时搭载光学立体相机和激光测高仪。虽然,已有相关文献针对美国的ICESat(Ice,Cloud,and land Elevation Satellite)卫星上搭载的地球科学激光测高系统(Geo-science Laser Altimeter System,GLAS)的几何模型和产品精度作了相关介绍,但对其严密的几何定位模型和精度验证目前还没有系统性的阐述。本文较全面地对激光测高卫星的严密几何模型进行了构建与精度分析,并选择ICESat/GLAS的0级辅助文件,采用严密几何模型重现了2级产品的生产过程。将本文计算的结果与ICESat/GLAS的结果进行了对比分析,其中基于几何模型的高程误差约11 cm,平面误差在3 cm以内,表明所提出的严密几何模型的正确性,同时采用新发射的资源三号02星的激光测高数据进行了初步处理和验证。相关结论可为国产高分后续卫星的激光测高数据处理提供参考。     

Improving the assessment of ICESat water altimetry accuracy accounting for autocorrelation

Given that water resources are scarce and are strained by competing demands, it has become crucial to develop and improve techniques to observe the temporal and spatial variations in the inland water volume. Due to the lack of data and the heterogeneity of water level stations, remote sensing, and especially altimetry from space, appear as complementary techniques for water level monitoring. In addition to spatial resolution and sampling rates in space or time, one of the most relevant criteria for satellite altimetry on inland water is the accuracy of the elevation data. Here, the accuracy of ICESat LIDAR altimetry product is assessed over the Great Lakes in North America. The accuracy assessment method used in this paper emphasizes on autocorrelation in high temporal frequency ICESat measurements. It also considers uncertainties resulting from both in situ lake level reference data. A probabilistic upscaling process was developed. This process is based on several successive ICESat shots averaged in a spatial transect accounting for autocorrelation between successive shots. The method also applies pre-processing of the ICESat data with saturation correction of ICESat waveforms, spatial filtering to avoid measurement disturbance from the land–water transition effects on waveform saturation and data selection to avoid trends in water elevations across space. Initially this paper analyzes 237 collected ICESat transects, consistent with the available hydrometric ground stations for four of the Great Lakes. By adapting a geostatistical framework, a high frequency autocorrelation between successive shot elevation values was observed and then modeled for 45% of the 237 transects. The modeled autocorrelation was therefore used to estimate water elevations at the transect scale and the resulting uncertainty for the 117 transects without trend. This uncertainty was 8 times greater than the usual computed uncertainty, when no temporal correlation is taken into account. This temporal correlation, corresponding to approximately 11 consecutive ICESat shots, could be linked to low transmitted ICESat GLAS energy and to poor weather conditions. Assuming Gaussian uncertainties for both reference data and ICESat data upscaled at the transect scale, we derived GLAS deviations statistics by averaging the results at station and lake scales. An overall bias of −4.6 cm (underestimation) and an overall standard deviation of 11.6 cm were computed for all lakes. Results demonstrated the relevance of taking autocorrelation into account in satellite data uncertainty assesment.     

GLAS星载激光雷达和Landsat/ETM+数据的森林生物量估算

基于大脚印激光雷达数据和野外观测数据,该文提出一种获取脚印点内森林生物量的新思路,并结合陆地卫星数据应用于长白山地区森林地上生物量估算。首先,基于3种森林类型(针叶林、阔叶林和针阔混交林),采用多元逐步回归方法建立激光雷达波形指数与脚印点内实测平均树高的回归模型,估算全部脚印点内的平均树高;然后根据脚印点内样方的野外观测数据(平均树高和平均胸径)以及它们与样方生物量的拟合方程估算没有野外调查数据对应的脚印点的生物量;最后对3种森林类型的脚印点森林生物量在各森林覆盖度条件下进行分层分区统计得到生物量等级图。验证比较遥感估算的生物量与野外调查数据推算的生物量,总体误差在0~30(t·hm~(-2))之间,均方根误差为14.66(t·hm~(-2))。     

Fine-resolution forest tree height estimation across the Sierra Nevada through the integration of spaceborne LiDAR,airborne LiDAR,and optical imagery

ABSTRACT

Forests of the Sierra Nevada (SN) mountain range are valuable natural heritages for the region and the country, and tree height is an important forest structure parameter for understanding the SN forest ecosystem. There is still a need in the accurate estimation of wall-to-wall SN tree height distribution at fine spatial resolution. In this study, we presented a method to map wall-to-wall forest tree height (defined as Lorey’s height) across the SN at 70-m resolution by fusing multi-source datasets, including over 1600 in situ tree height measurements and over 1600?km² airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. Accurate tree height estimates within these airborne LiDAR boundaries were first computed based on in situ measurements, and then these airborne LiDAR-derived tree heights were used as reference data to estimate tree heights at Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) footprints. Finally, the random forest algorithm was used to model the SN tree height from these GLAS tree heights, optical imagery, topographic data, and climate data. The results show that our fine-resolution SN tree height product has a good correspondence with field measurements. The coefficient of determination between them is 0.60, and the root-mean-squared error is 5.45?m.     

大光斑激光雷达数据的森林冠层高度反演

针对传统的LM波形分解算法在GLAS大光斑波形数据处理中容易陷于局部最优解,限制了GLAS大光斑激光雷达数据在森林结构参数反演方面应用的问题,该文结合GLAS大光斑数据特征,引进优化后的EM算法对大光斑全波形数据进行分解,获取波形参数最优值。结合波形前缘长度和波形后缘长度,建立树高反演模型,并与LM分解算法建立的模型进行对比分析。研究结果表明,通过改进的EM算法对GLAS大光斑激光雷达数据进行处理,波形特征参数的获取更为精确,达到了较高的树高反演精度。     

卫星激光测高植被目标回波的半解析仿真模型

目前激光星载激光测高仪已被广泛应用于植被目标特征的提取,证明了激光雷达在林业行业的巨大应用潜力。植被目标的回波波形复杂,本文提出了一种基于半解析法植被目标的回波仿真模型,可以较好地仿真特定输入参数产生的波形。使用GLAS测高系统经过大兴安岭区域的激光波形和实地林木样地参数为依据,仿真波形与GLAS回波的相关系数R²均达到0.91以上。利用回波仿真模型定量控制如冠层几何形状、区域坡度、地面粗糙度和林下植被的变化并快速获取大量波形的优势,独立地分析每个因素对回波波形的影响,为植被目标反演的数据源选取及对回波波形展宽的分析提供指导意见。     

大光斑波形数据在土地覆盖分类的适用性分析

针对GLAS地学激光测高系统是冰、云和陆地高程卫星(ICESat)的唯一监测工具,能够记录地表光斑内的地物信息,是否能应用于黄土高原土地覆盖分类的问题进行了研究。利用粒子群和最小二乘法相结合的方法对GLAS波形数据进行高斯分解,获取高斯波个数、波形总能量、波形信号起始和信号结束位置4个波形参数;基于波形自动分类方法对黄土高原水体、森林、城市用地、其他地类(裸地、低矮植被等)进行分类。通过基于覆盖相同研究区域的30 m地表覆盖数据(Globe Land30),验证分类的准确性。结果表明,GLAS大光斑波形数据对黄土高原的4种地类能够很好地进行区分,总分类精度高达87.68%,Kappa系数为65.79%。研究表明,GLAS波形数据可以作为获取土地覆盖信息的有效数据源,为研究黄土高原土地覆盖变化提供更丰富的数据支持。     

吉林长白山森林冠顶高度激光雷达与MERSI联合反演

将激光雷达与光学遥感相结合进行区域林分冠顶高度联合反演,提出了大脚印激光雷达GLAS脚点波形数据处理和不同地形条件下的森林冠顶高度反演算法,并建立了区域尺度不同森林类型林分冠顶高度GLAS＋MERSI联合反演模型,制作了长白山地区森林冠顶高度图。