Possibilities to determine biometric parameters using airborne laser scanning data

Abstract

The paper brings forward ways to solve the problem of estimating the trunk diameter using data of airborne laser scanning (LIDAR) relevant for forest inventory. At the first stage of studying, it was defined the regularities of tree height and diameter relations for various species, as well as the coefficients of coupling equations of the significance of “height-diameter” relations based on field data. At the second stage, it was calculated the relations of crown parameters (diameter and volume) and the trunk height and diameter at 1.3 m level accounting parameters dependent of species. Based on the estimated and LIDAR data, the resulting calculations of tree diameters were made with 83.2% accuracy. The proposed calculation of the trunk diameter is an important step for further development of an automated algorithm to obtain basic taxation indicators, such as the tree trunk number, height and diameter. The data got by this way can be used for high density forests while cuttings assessment using LIDAR.