Rapid, High-Resolution Forest Structure and Terrain Mapping over Large Areas using Single Photon Lidar.

ABSTRACT: Single photon lidar (SPL) is an innovative technology for rapid forest structure and terrain characterization over large areas. Here, we evaluate data from an SPL instrument - the High Resolution Quantum Lidar System (HRQLS) that was used to map the entirety of Garrett County in Maryland, USA (1700 km(2)). We develop novel approaches to filter solar noise to enable the derivation of forest canopy structure and ground elevation from SPL point clouds. SPL attributes are compared with field measurements and an existing leaf-off, low-point density discrete return lidar dataset as a means of validation. We find that canopy and ground characteristics from SPL are similar to discrete return lidar despite differences in wavelength and acquisition periods but the higher point density of the SPL dat

SUBMITTER: Swatantran A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4916424 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature