A Framework for Improving Wall-to-Wall Canopy Height Mapping by Integrating GEDI LiDAR
Cangjiao WangAndrew J. ElmoreIzaya NumataMark A. CochraneShaogang LeiChristopher R. HakkenbergYuanyuan LiYibo ZhaoYu Tian
15
Citation
47
Reference
10
Related Paper
Citation Trend
Abstract:
Spatially continuous canopy height is a vital input for modeling forest structures and functioning. The global ecosystem dynamics investigation (GEDI) waveform can penetrate a canopy to precisely find the ground and measure canopy height, but it is spatially discontinuous over the earth’s surface. A common method to achieve wall-to-wall canopy height mapping is to integrate a set of field-measured canopy heights and spectral bands from optical and/or microwave remote sensing data as ancillary information. However, due partly to the saturation of spectral reflectance to canopy height, the product of this method may misrepresent canopy height. As a result, neither GEDI footprints nor interpolated maps using the common method can accurately produce spatially continuous canopy height maps alone. To address this issue, this study proposes a framework of point-surface fusion for canopy height mapping (FPSF-CH) that uses GEDI data to calibrate the initial wall-to-wall canopy height map derived from a sub-model of FPSF-CH. The effectiveness of the proposed FPSF-CH was validated by comparison to canopy heights derived from (1) a high-resolution canopy height model derived from airborne discrete point cloud lidar across three test sites, (2) a global canopy height product (GDAL RH95), and (3) the results of the FPSF-CH sub-model without fusing with the GEDI canopy height. The results showed that the RMSE and rRMSE of FPSF-CH were 3.82, 4.05, and 3.48 m, and 18.77, 16.24, and 13.81% across the three test sites, respectively. The FPSF-CH achieved improvement over GDAL RH95, with reductions in RMSE values of 1.28, 2.25, and 2.23 m, and reductions in rRMSE values of 6.29, 9.01, and 8.90% across the three test sites, respectively. Additionally, the better performance of the FPSF-CH compared with its sub-model further confirmed the effectiveness of integrating GEDI data for calibrating wall-to-wall canopy height mapping. The proposed FPSF-CH integrates GEDI LiDAR data to provide a new avenue for accurate wall-to-wall canopy height mapping critical to applications, such as estimations of biomass, biodiversity, and carbon stocks.Keywords:
Tree canopy
Tree canopy
Cite
Citations (31)
Summary It has been suggested that diverse forests utilize canopy space more efficiently than species‐poor ones, as mixing species with complementary architectural and physiological traits allows trees to pack more densely. However, whether positive canopy packing–diversity relationships are a general feature of forests remains unclear. Using crown allometric data collected for 12 939 trees from permanent forest plots across Europe, we test (i) whether diversity promotes canopy packing across forest types and (ii) whether increased canopy packing occurs primarily through vertical stratification of tree crowns or as a result of intraspecific plasticity in crown morphology. We found that canopy packing efficiency increased markedly in response to species richness across a range of forest types and species combinations. Positive canopy packing–diversity relationships were primarily driven by the fact that trees growing in mixture had sizably larger crowns (38% on average) than those in monoculture. The ability of trees to plastically adapt the shape and size of their crowns in response to changes in local competitive environment is critical in allowing mixed‐species forests to optimize the use of canopy space. By promoting the development of denser and more structurally complex canopies, species mixing can strongly impact nutrient cycling and storage in forest ecosystems.
Tree canopy
Monoculture
Allometry
Cite
Citations (355)
In the past, obtaining reliable measurements of key forest canopy metrics has been difficult, even after the development of remote sensing technology. Fortunately, next-generation lidar systems are proving to be useful tools for deriving critical canopy measurements, such as height, structure and biomass. These studies have all focused on empirical comparisons between basic lidar-derived and field-sampled measurements. The results of these studies have shown that lidar remote sensing instruments can successfully measure forest canopy characteristics. However, physically-based remote sensing models are necessary to more fully understand and interpret the interactions of the laser energy with the forest canopy. In this study the Geometric Optical and Radiative Transfer (GORT) model is used to model lidar waveforms. GORT is capable of modeling lidar returns from canopies with clumped multiple layers and multiple species. For this study, GORT was used to model waveforms over the Sierra National Forest in California. Field data input into GORT are a representative sample of the different vegetation types found in the forest. The modeled waveforms are then validated against actual lidar data collected by the Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS) which mapped the area in October 1999. By modeling lidar waveforms based on the physical principles of radiative transfer, GORT fills a missing link between the remotely sensed and actual canopy structure. The results of this study will also aid in future large-scale land surface mapping by developing a link between lidar and other remote sensing data.
Tree canopy
Cite
Citations (2)
Backscatter (email)
Ranging
Cite
Citations (35)
European forests are among the most extensively studied ecosystems in the world, yet there are still debates about their recent dynamics. We modeled the changes in tree canopy height across Europe from 2001 to 2021 using the multidecadal spectral data from the Landsat archive and calibration data from Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) and spaceborne Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) lidars. Annual tree canopy height was modeled using regression tree ensembles and integrated with annual tree canopy removal maps to produce harmonized tree height map time series. From these time series, we derived annual tree canopy extent maps using a ≥ 5 m tree height threshold. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) for both ALS-calibrated and GEDI-calibrated tree canopy height maps was ≤4 m. The user's and producer's accuracies estimated using reference sample data are ≥94% for the tree canopy extent maps and ≥ 80% for the annual tree canopy removal maps. Analyzing the map time series, we found that the European tree canopy extent area increased by nearly 1% overall during the past two decades, with the largest increase observed in Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, and the British Isles. However, after the year 2016, the tree canopy extent in Europe declined. Some regions reduced their tree canopy extent between 2001 and 2021, with the highest reduction observed in Fennoscandia (3.5% net decrease). The continental extent of tall tree canopy forests (≥ 15 m height) decreased by 3% from 2001 to 2021. The recent decline in tree canopy extent agrees with the FAO statistics on timber harvesting intensification and with the increasing extent and severity of natural disturbances. The observed decreasing tree canopy height indicates a reduction in forest carbon storage capacity in Europe.
Tree canopy
Tree (set theory)
Forest dynamics
Cite
Citations (25)
Several spaceborne and airborne lidar systems have been launched for vegetation canopy studies. Previous research has shown that lidars are useful tools for remote sensing of vegetation architecture. To support its Airborne Remote Sensing Program, the University of Nebraska has developed a multiwavelength airborne polarimetric lidar system. This system employs a Nd:YAG laser which emits radiation at two wavelengths: the fundamental at 1064 nm and the frequency-doubled at 532 nm. Both laser beams are highly linearly polarized (100:1 extinction ratio) and have a beam divergence angle of /spl sim/4 mrad. The receiver consists of four channels, which enable dual-wavelength and dual-polarization detection. In addition to the polarimetric information that could be gathered, this lidar system also has ranging capability and is able to record the whole lidar waveform. Thus, our lidar is capable of performing studies of vegetation canopy structure as well as characterization of vegetation depolarization. The system has been packaged to fly aboard a Piper Saratoga aircraft from a height of 1000 m. In this paper, we will present the details of the lidar system design, instrumentation, the system alignment and preliminary ground test results.
Instrumentation
Ranging
Flight test
Cite
Citations (11)
This paper is a review of lidar remote sensing of the aquatic environment. The optical properties of seawater relevant to lidar remote sensing are described. The three main theoretical approaches to understanding the performance of lidar are considered (the time-dependent radiative transfer equation, Monte Carlo simulations, and the quasi-single-scattering assumption). Basic lidar instrument design considerations are presented, and examples of lidar studies from surface vessels, aircraft, and satellites are given.
Atmospheric optics
Cite
Citations (22)
Data are provided from 17 single-swath aerial spray trials that were conducted over a fully leafed, 16-m tall, mixed oak forest. The distribution of cross-swath spray deposits was sampled at the top of the canopy and below the canopy. Micrometeorological conditions were measured above and within the canopy during the spray trials. The USDA Forest Service FSCBG (Forest Service-Cramer-Barry-Grim) model was run to predict the target sampler catch for each trial using forest stand, airplane-application-equipment configuration, and micrometeorological conditions as inputs. Observations showed an average cross-swath deposition of 100 IU cm−2 with large run-to-run variability in deposition patterns, magnitudes, and drift. Eleven percent of the spray material that reached the top of the canopy penetrated through the tree canopy to the forest floor. The FSCBG predictions of the ensemble-averaged deposition were within 17% of the measured deposition at the canopy top and within 8% on the ground beneath the canopy. Run-to-run deposit predictions by FSCBG were considerably less variable than the measured deposits. Individual run predictions were much less accurate than the ensemble-averaged predictions as demonstrated by an average root-mean-square-error (rmse) of 27.9 IU CM−2 at the top of the canopy. Comparisons of the differences between predicted and observed deposits indicated that the model accuracy was sensitive to atmospheric stability conditions. In neutral and stable conditions, a regular pattern of error was indicated by overprediction of the canopy-top deposit at distances from 0 to 20 m downwind from the flight line and underprediction of the deposit both farther downwind than 20 m and upwind of the flight line. In unstable conditions the model generally underpredicted the deposit downwind from the flight line, but showed no regular pattern of error.
Tree canopy
Deposition
Atmospheric instability
Cite
Citations (13)
LIDAR has to be considered as a key-tool for environmental remote sensing. A LIDAR measurement, based on the laser induced spectroscopy of a remote target, give the possibility of an accurate and fast monitoring of wide areas with good spatial and temporal resolution. LIDAR applications range from atmosphere to earth-surface remote sensing, offering the possibility of measuring significant environmental parameters, such as the concentration of different pollutants and of biological pigments. LIDAR sensors have been successfully employed from different mobile platforms, including van, ship, helicopter and aeroplane.
Environmental Monitoring
Cite
Citations (0)
Lidar or laser radar, a modern active remote sensing technique of atmosphere, has been fast developed and widely applied in survey of the atmospheric and the marine environment because of its high accuracy and high time-space resolution of measurement. This paper firstly describes the basic measurement principle of the lidar and then discusses/analyzes the key technologies/methods, and application prospect of the several kind of existing lidar particularly, such as atmospheric environment monitor lidar, the meteorological observation lidar and space borne lidar. Finally, the newest lidar technology and its advances in the domestic and foreign are summarized.
Cite
Citations (7)