Impact of data model and point density on aboveground forest biomass estimation from airborne LiDAR

Background

Accurate estimation of aboveground forest biomass (AGB) and its dynamics is of paramount importance in understanding the role of forest in the carbon cycle and the effective implementation of climate change mitigation policies. LiDAR is currently the most accurate technology for AGB estimation. LiDAR metrics can be derived from the 3D point cloud (echo-based) or from the canopy height model (CHM). Different sensors and survey configurations can affect the metrics derived from the LiDAR data. We evaluate the ability of the metrics derived from the echo-based and CHM data models to estimate AGB in three different biomes, as well as the impact of point density on the metrics derived from them.

Results

Our results show that differences among metrics derived at different point densities were significantly different from zero, with a larger impact on CHM-based than echo-based metrics, particularly when the point density was reduced to 1 point m^?2. Both data models-echo-based and CHM-performed similarly well in estimating AGB at the three study sites. For the temperate forest in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA, R² ranged from 0.79 to 0.8 and RMSE (relRMSE) from 69.69 (35.59%) to 70.71 (36.12%) Mg ha^?1 for the echo-based model and from 0.76 to 0.78 and 73.84 (37.72%) to 128.20 (65.49%) Mg ha^?1 for the CHM-based model. For the moist tropical forest on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, the models gave R² ranging between 0.70 and 0.71 and RMSE between 30.08 (12.36%) and 30.32 (12.46) Mg ha^?1 [between 0.69–0.70 and 30.42 (12.50%) and 61.30 (25.19%) Mg ha^?1] for the echo-based [CHM-based] models. Finally, for the Atlantic forest in the Sierra do Mar, Brazil, R² was between 0.58–0.69 and RMSE between 37.73 (8.67%) and 39.77 (9.14%) Mg ha^?1 for the echo-based model, whereas for the CHM R² was between 0.37–0.45 and RMSE between 45.43 (10.44%) and 67.23 (15.45%) Mg ha^?1.

Conclusions

Metrics derived from the CHM show a higher dependence on point density than metrics derived from the echo-based data model. Despite the median of the differences between metrics derived at different point densities differing significantly from zero, the mean change was close to zero and smaller than the standard deviation except for very low point densities (1 point m^?2). The application of calibrated models to estimate AGB on metrics derived from thinned datasets resulted in less than 5% error when metrics were derived from the echo-based model. For CHM-based metrics, the same level of error was obtained for point densities higher than 5 points m^?2. The fact that reducing point density does not introduce significant errors in AGB estimates is important for biomass monitoring and for an effective implementation of climate change mitigation policies such as REDD + due to its implications for the costs of data acquisition. Both data models showed similar capability to estimate AGB when point density was greater than or equal to 5 point m^?2.

     

机载激光雷达及高光谱的森林乔木物种多样性遥感监测

利用机载LiDAR和高光谱数据并结合37个地面调查样本数据,基于结构差异与光谱变异理论,通过相关分析法分别筛选了3个最优林冠结构参数和6个最优光谱指数,在单木尺度上利用自适应C均值模糊聚类算法,在神农架国家自然保护区开展森林乔木物种多样性监测,实现了森林乔木物种多样性的区域成图。研究结果表明,(1)基于结合形态学冠层控制的分水岭算法可以获得较高精度的单木分割结果(R~2=0.88,RMSE=13.17,P0.001);(2)基于LiDAR数据提取的9个结构参数中,95%百分位高度、冠层盖度和植被穿透率为最优结构参数,与Shannon-Wiener指数的相关性达到R~2=0.39—0.42(P0.01);(3)基于机载高光谱数据筛选的16个常用的植被指数中,CRI、OSAVI、Narrow band NDVI、SR、Vogelmann index1、PRI与Shannon-Wiener指数的相关性最高(R~2=0.37—0.45,P0.01);(4)在研究区,利用以30 m×30 m为窗口的自适应模糊C均值聚类算法可预测的最大森林乔木物种数为20,物种丰富度的预测精度为R~2=0.69,RMSE=3.11,Shannon-Wiener指数的预测精度为R~2=0.70,RMSE=0.32。该研究在亚热带森林开展乔木物种多样性监测,是在区域尺度上进行物种多样性成图的重要实践,可有效补充森林生物多样性本底数据的调查手段,有助于实现生物多样性的长期动态监测及科学分析森林物种多样性的现状和变化趋势。     

机载激光雷达在密林山区测绘中的应用

机载激光雷达是近年来发展迅速的高新测绘技术,具有机动性高、数据覆盖量大、作业效率高和精度可靠等特点。针对当前山区沟壑且有大量植被覆盖区域进行传统测量作业较为困难,危险性大的问题,采用机载激光雷达技术获取研究区原始点云数据,在此基础上,对比分析四种滤波算法的点云分类效果,得到适用于密林沟壑区的点云滤波方法,进而通过人机交互和地面点内插实现了测区高精度数字高程模型（digital elevation model,DEM）的构建,最终获得的DEM高程中误差为0.09 m,满足实际测绘生产需求,生产效率大大提高。研究结果表明,机载激光雷达技术应用于复杂危险地形测绘具有极大优势。     

Deep neural network for complex open-water wetland mapping using high-resolution WorldView-3 and airborne LiDAR data

Wetland inventory maps are essential information for the conservation and management of natural wetland areas. The classification framework is crucial for successful mapping of complex wetlands, including the model selection, input variables and training procedures. In this context, deep neural network (DNN) is a powerful technique for remote sensing image classification, but this model application for wetland mapping has not been discussed in the previous literature, especially using commercial WorldView-3 data. This study developed a new framework for wetland mapping using DNN algorithm and WorldView-3 image in the Millrace Flats Wildlife Management Area, Iowa, USA. The study area has several wetlands with a variety of shapes and sizes, and the minimum mapping unit was defined as 20 m² (0.002 ha). A set of potential variables was derived from WorldView-3 and auxiliary LiDAR data, and a feature selection procedure using principal components analysis (PCA) was used to identify the most important variables for wetland classification. Furthermore, traditional machine learning methods (support vector machine, random forest and k-nearest neighbor) were also implemented for the comparison of results. In general, the results show that DNN achieved satisfactory results in the study area (overall accuracy = 93.33 %), and we observed a high spatial overlap between reference and classified wetland polygons (Jaccard index ∼0.8). Our results confirm that PCA-based feature selection was effective in the optimization of DNN performance, and vegetation and textural indices were the most informative variables. In addition, the comparison of results indicated that DNN classification achieved relatively similar accuracies to other methods. The total classification errors vary from 0.104 to 0.111 among the methods, and the overlapped areas between reference and classified polygons range between 87.93 and 93.33 %. Finally, the findings of this study have three main implications. First, the integration of DNN model and WorldView-3 image is useful for wetland mapping at 1.2-m, but DNN results did not outperform other methods in this study area. Second, the feature selection was important for model performance, and the combination of most relevant input parameters contributes to the success of all tested models. Third, the spatial resolution of WorldView-3 is appropriate to preserve the shape and extent of small wetlands, while the application of medium resolution image (30-m) has a negative impact on the accurate delineation of these areas. Since commercial satellite data are becoming more affordable for remote sensing users, this study provides a framework that can be utilized to integrate very high-resolution imagery and deep learning in the classification of complex wetland areas.     

Retrieving aboveground biomass of wetland Phragmites australis (common reed) using a combination of airborne discrete-return LiDAR and hyperspectral data

Wetland biomass is essential for monitoring the stability and productivity of wetland ecosystems. Conventional field methods to measure or estimate wetland biomass are accurate and reliable, but expensive, time consuming and labor intensive. This research explored the potential for estimating wetland reed biomass using a combination of airborne discrete-return Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and hyperspectral data. To derive the optimal predictor variables of reed biomass, a range of LiDAR and hyperspectral metrics at different spatial scales were regressed against the field-observed biomasses. The results showed that the LiDAR-derived H_p99 (99th percentile of the LiDAR height) and hyperspectral-calculated modified soil-adjusted vegetation index (MSAVI) were the best metrics for estimating reed biomass using the single regression model. Although the LiDAR data yielded a higher estimation accuracy compared to the hyperspectral data, the combination of LiDAR and hyperspectral data produced a more accurate prediction model for reed biomass (R² = 0.648, RMSE = 167.546 g/m², RMSE_r = 20.71%) than LiDAR data alone. Thus, combining LiDAR data with hyperspectral data has a great potential for improving the accuracy of aboveground biomass estimation.     

Pattern detection in airborne LiDAR data using Laplacian of Gaussian filter

Methods for feature detection in laser scanning data have been studied for decades ever since the emergence of the technology.However,it is still one of the unsolved problems in LiDAR data processing due to difficulty of texture and structure information extraction in unevenly sampled points.The paper analyzes the characteristics of Laplacian of Gaussian(LoG) Filter and its potential use for structure detection in LiDAR data.A feature detection method based on LoG filtering is presented and ex-perimented on the unstructured points.The method filters the elevation value(namely,z coordinate value) of each point by convo-lution using LoG kernel within its local area and derives patterns suggesting the existence of certain types of ground ob-jects/features.The experiments are carried on a point cloud dataset acquired from a neighborhood area.The results demonstrate patterns detected at different scales and the relationship between standard deviation that defines LoG kernel and neighborhood size,which specifies the local area that is analyzed.     

Pattern detection in airborne LiDAR data using Laplacian of Gaussian filter

Methods for feature detection in laser scanning data have been studied for decades ever since the emergence of the technology. However, it is still one of the unsolved problems in LiDAR data processing due to difficulty of texture and structure information extraction in unevenly sampled points. The paper analyzes the characteristics of Laplacian of Gaussian (LoG) Filter and its potential use for structure detection in LiDAR data. A feature detection method based on LoG filtering is presented and experimented on the unstructured points. The method filters the elevation value (namely, z coordinate value) of each point by convolution using LoG kernel within its local area and derives patterns suggesting the existence of certain types of ground objects/features. The experiments are carried on a point cloud dataset acquired from a neighborhood area. The results demonstrate patterns detected at different scales and the relationship between standard deviation that defines LoG kernel and neighborhood size, which specifies the local area that is analyzed.     

机载LiDAR数据的多回波信息分析及滤波方案

本文通过分析机载LiDAR系统获取的激光数据的多回波特性,阐述了多回波信息对地物类型信息的揭示作用,并将多回波特性用于减少参与滤波的激光脚点数量。实验证明,本文提出的滤波方案,可以预先剔除掉大部分的植被激光脚点和部分的建筑物激光脚点,这既减少了参与滤波的数据量,又可以改善滤波算法对建筑物和植被的滤除效果。     

Integration of WorldView-2 and airborne LiDAR data for tree species level carbon stock mapping in Kayar Khola watershed,Nepal

Integration of WorldView-2 satellite image with small footprint airborne LiDAR data for estimation of tree carbon at species level has been investigated in tropical forests of Nepal. This research aims to quantify and map carbon stock for dominant tree species in Chitwan district of central Nepal. Object based image analysis and supervised nearest neighbor classification methods were deployed for tree canopy retrieval and species level classification respectively. Initially, six dominant tree species (Shorea robusta, Schima wallichii, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Terminalia tomentosa, Mallotus philippinensis and Semecarpus anacardium) were able to be identified and mapped through image classification. The result showed a 76% accuracy of segmentation and 1970.99 as best average separability. Tree canopy height model (CHM) was extracted based on LiDAR’s first and last return from an entire study area. On average, a significant correlation coefficient (r) between canopy projection area (CPA) and carbon; height and carbon; and CPA and height were obtained as 0.73, 0.76 and 0.63, respectively for correctly detected trees. Carbon stock model validation results showed regression models being able to explain up to 94%, 78%, 76%, 84% and 78% of variations in carbon estimation for the following tree species: S. robusta, L. parviflora, T. tomentosa, S. wallichii and others (combination of rest tree species).     

机载LiDAR和高光谱融合实现温带天然林树种识别

将机载LiDAR(Light Detection and Ranging)与高光谱CASI(Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager)数据融合,充分利用垂直结构信息和光谱信息进行温带森林树种分类,并与仅用高光谱数据的分类结果相比较,评估融合数据的树种分类能力。结合样地实测数据,首先用LiDAR获得的3维垂直结构信息对CASI影像上的林间空隙进行掩膜,提取林木冠层子集;然后对冠层子集分层掩膜,利用光谱曲线的一阶微分及曲线匹配技术,实现各树种训练样本的自动提取;利用SVM分类器对两种数据分类并比较精度。结果表明,融合数据的树种分类总体精度和Kappa系数(83.88%,0.80)优于仅使用CASI数据(76.71%、0.71),优势树种的制图精度为78.43%—89.22%,用户精度为75.15%—95.65%,整体也优于仅使用CASI的制图精度(68.51%—84.69%)和用户精度(63.34%—95.45%)。结果表明,机载LiDAR与CASI基于像元的融合对温带森林树种识别的精度较仅高光谱数据有较大提高。     

Estimation of aboveground biomass and carbon in a tropical rain forest in Gabon using remote sensing and GPS data

The knowledge of biomass stocks in tropical forests is critical for climate change and ecosystem services studies. This research was conducted in a tropical rain forest located near the city of Libreville (the capital of Gabon), in the Akanda Peninsula. The forest cover was stratified in terms of mature, secondary and mangrove forests using Landsat-ETM data. A field inventory was conducted to measure the required basic forest parameters and estimate the aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon over the different forest classes. The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data were used in combination with ground-based GPS measurements to derive forest heights. Finally, the relationships between the estimated heights and AGB were established and validated. Highest biomass stocks were found in the mature stands (223 ± 37 MgC/ha), followed by the secondary forests (116 ± 17 MgC/ha) and finally the mangrove forests (36 ± 19 MgC/ha). Strong relationships were found between AGB and forest heights (R² > 0.85).     

Combined use of LiDAR data and multispectral earth observation imagery for wetland habitat mapping

Although wetlands play a key role in controlling flooding and nonpoint source pollution, sequestering carbon and providing an abundance of ecological services, the inventory and characterization of wetland habitats are most often limited to small areas. This explains why the understanding of their ecological functioning is still insufficient for a reliable functional assessment on areas larger than a few hectares. While LiDAR data and multispectral Earth Observation (EO) images are often used separately to map wetland habitats, their combined use is currently being assessed for different habitat types. The aim of this study is to evaluate the combination of multispectral and multiseasonal imagery and LiDAR data to precisely map the distribution of wetland habitats. The image classification was performed combining an object-based approach and decision-tree modeling. Four multispectral images with high (SPOT-5) and very high spatial resolution (Quickbird, KOMPSAT-2, aerial photographs) were classified separately. Another classification was then applied integrating summer and winter multispectral image data and three layers derived from LiDAR data: vegetation height, microtopography and intensity return. The comparison of classification results shows that some habitats are better identified on the winter image and others on the summer image (overall accuracies = 58.5 and 57.6%). They also point out that classification accuracy is highly improved (overall accuracy = 86.5%) when combining LiDAR data and multispectral images. Moreover, this study highlights the advantage of integrating vegetation height, microtopography and intensity parameters in the classification process. This article demonstrates that information provided by the synergetic use of multispectral images and LiDAR data can help in wetland functional assessment     

考虑目标光谱差异的机载离散激光雷达叶面积指数反演

利用间隙率模型反演LAI（Leaf Area Index），需要同时获取冠层间隙率和消光系数，后者与冠层叶倾角分布有关。基于点云数量构建激光雷达穿透指数LPI （LiDAR Penetration Index），用以代替冠层间隙率GF （Gap Fraction），并利用间隙率模型反演冠层LAI是利用LiDAR PCD（LiDAR Point Cloud Data）数据反演冠层LAI主要思路。冠层和背景的光谱差异是影响PCD数据中冠层和背景点云数量的重要因素，因此从LPI到GF的校正需要获取背景和冠层的后向散射系数比（μ=ρg/ρv）。本文基于PCD数据中点云强度进行μ值获取，用以实现LPI到GF的校正；在假设区域内叶倾角满足椭球形叶倾角分布的基础上，利用样地尺度下的多角度GF，采用有约束的非线性最优化方法获取椭球形叶倾角分布参数χ，实现冠层消光系数的获取；最后利用间隙率模型实现基于PCD数据的LAI反演。本文探讨了基于PCD数据进行冠层LAI反演时，样地尺度Rxy_Tile、样方尺度Rxy_Plot以及进行背景和冠层分割的高度阈值Ht对模型的影响。结果显示，由于区域内地衣植被广泛覆盖，基于点云强度的μ 值接近1，符合区域特点；经过μ值校正后的GF对冠层间隙率具有较好的反映能力（R2=0.78,RMSE=0.09）；对于优势种明显的区域，基于样地尺度内多角度GF的χ值反演受样地内冠间大间隙的影响，选择合适的样地尺度能够减小LAI反演过程中的系统性误差；结合地面参考数据，确定的最优Rxy_Tile、Rxy_Plot和Ht分别为950 m、10 m和2.6 m，在此基础上反演的LAI与地面测量数据具有高度的一致性（R2=0.84,RMSE=0.51）；与Rxy_Plot相比，基于间隙率模型的LAI反演对Ht的选择更为敏感。     

机载LiDAR数据的多回波信息分析及应用研究

本文通过分析机载LiDAR系统获取的激光数据的多回波特性,阐述了多回波信息对地物类型信息的揭示作用,并将多回波特性用于减少参与滤波的激光脚点数量。实验证明,本文提出的滤波方案,可以预先剔除掉大部分的植被激光脚点和部分的建筑物激光脚点,既减少了参与滤波的数据量,又可以改善滤波算法对建筑物和植被的滤除效果。     

平原地区机载激光雷达数据的抽稀算法分析

目前,机载激光雷达点云数据在测绘行业中的应用还存在较多的瓶颈。为了使机载激光雷达点云数据更好地服务等值线等数据的生产,发挥其高效和高精度的优势,本文归纳、总结了国内外现有的LiDAR点云数据抽稀算法,并通过对比分析现有LiDAR点云数据抽稀算法存在的优缺点,如系统抽稀、格网抽稀、TIN抽稀和坡度抽稀等算法,结合平原地区激光点云在实际生产中的应用,研究了更适合平原地区点云数据的抽稀方法,通过大量的数据测试和试生产。结果表明,该方法可以在应用项目精度约束下保证数据质量,减少了后期数据处理应用的难度,提升了后续成果数据的质量,提高了作业生产效率,对机载激光雷达点云数据在测绘行业中的应用推广具有重要的现实意义。     

机载LiDAR和高光谱数据融合提取冰川雪线

以西藏那曲县境内的“中习一号”冰川为研究区,对2011年8月获取的机载激光雷达点云进行预处理和滤波分类,提取研究区数字高程模型(digital elevation model,DEM);将DEM数据分别与同期获取的机载高光谱栅格数据和提取出的冰川矢量数据进行三维地形模拟,利用DEM数据对高光谱最大似然法分类结果进行正射纠正,从而获取研究区的数字正射影像(digital orthophoto map,DOM);最后结合研究区DOM和机载点云数据提取“中习一号”冰川的雪线.结果表明:融合机载高光谱和机载激光雷达2种数据的优势,能更方便地提取出冰川雪线,而且能很好地显示雪线的高度.     

Individual tree crown delineation using localized contour tree method and airborne LiDAR data in coniferous forests

Individual tree crown delineation is of great importance for forest inventory and management. The increasing availability of high-resolution airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data makes it possible to delineate the crown structure of individual trees and deduce their geometric properties with high accuracy. In this study, we developed an automated segmentation method that is able to fully utilize high-resolution LiDAR data for detecting, extracting, and characterizing individual tree crowns with a multitude of geometric and topological properties. The proposed approach captures topological structure of forest and quantifies topological relationships of tree crowns by using a graph theory-based localized contour tree method, and finally segments individual tree crowns by analogy of recognizing hills from a topographic map. This approach consists of five key technical components: (1) derivation of canopy height model from airborne LiDAR data; (2) generation of contours based on the canopy height model; (3) extraction of hierarchical structures of tree crowns using the localized contour tree method; (4) delineation of individual tree crowns by segmenting hierarchical crown structure; and (5) calculation of geometric and topological properties of individual trees. We applied our new method to the Medicine Bow National Forest in the southwest of Laramie, Wyoming and the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest in the central portion of the Cascade Range of Oregon, U.S. The results reveal that the overall accuracy of individual tree crown delineation for the two study areas achieved 94.21% and 75.07%, respectively. Our method holds great potential for segmenting individual tree crowns under various forest conditions. Furthermore, the geometric and topological attributes derived from our method provide comprehensive and essential information for forest management.