Refined GEDI Level-2A Database Construction: Focused on Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea

Abstract

The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI), a full-waveform light detection and ranging system, translated the energy into a continuous waveform and recorded the signals chronologically for enabling geometric analysis of the vertical structure of vegetation. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has used the land, vegetation, and ice sensor (LVIS) airborne laser altimeter system to measure terrain, tree heights, and vegetation carbon stocks in designated areas. The effectiveness of the collected LVIS data has been proven in mapping forest structures and biomass in tropical and temperate systems. Based on the successful achievements of LVIS, the GEDI aimed to establish a global range of forest data needed to analyze and predict the carbon cycle and climate change. The GEDI was launched aboard the SpaceX-16 in 2018 and successfully attached to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 2-year mission, but now extended until March 2023. Since being mounted on the ISS, GEDI measured over 10 billion cloud-free surface observations within the range of 51.6°N to 51.6°S. In this paper, GEDI mission is introduced, and the process of downloading, refining the GEDI level-2A product focused on Gyeonggi Province is outlined.

Keywords

• gedi
• full-waveform lidar
• forest vertical structure
• forest carbon stock
• carbon cycle