Integrating UAV-SfM and Airborne Lidar Point Cloud Data to Plantation Forest Feature Extraction
A low-cost but accurate remote-sensing-based forest-monitoring tool is necessary for regularly inventorying tree-level parameters and stand-level attributes to achieve sustainable management of timber production forests. Lidar technology is precise for multi-temporal data collection but expensive. A...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/7/1713 |
| _version_ | 1797437828244701184 |
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| author | Tatsuki Yoshii Naoto Matsumura Chinsu Lin |
| author_facet | Tatsuki Yoshii Naoto Matsumura Chinsu Lin |
| author_sort | Tatsuki Yoshii |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A low-cost but accurate remote-sensing-based forest-monitoring tool is necessary for regularly inventorying tree-level parameters and stand-level attributes to achieve sustainable management of timber production forests. Lidar technology is precise for multi-temporal data collection but expensive. A low-cost UAV-based optical sensing method is an economical and flexible alternative for collecting high-resolution images for generating point cloud data and orthophotos for mapping but lacks height accuracy. This study proposes a protocol of integrating a UAV equipped without an RTK instrument and airborne lidar sensors (ALS) for characterizing tree parameters and stand attributes for use in plantation forest management. The proposed method primarily relies on the ALS-based digital elevation model data (ALS-DEM), UAV-based structure-from-motion technique generated digital surface model data (UAV-SfM-DSM), and their derivative canopy height model data (UAV-SfM-CHM). Following traditional forest inventory approaches, a few middle-aged and mature stands of Hinoki cypress (<i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i>) plantation forests were used to investigate the performance of characterizing forest parameters via the canopy height model. Results show that the proposed method can improve UAV-SfM point cloud referencing transformation accuracy. With the derived CHM data, this method can estimate tree height with an RMSE ranging from 0.43 m to 1.65 m, equivalent to a PRMSE of 2.40–7.84%. The tree height estimates between UAV-based and ALS-based approaches are highly correlated (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.98, <i>p</i> < 0.0001), similarly, the height annual growth rate (HAGR) is also significantly correlated (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.78, <i>p</i> < 0.0001). The percentage HAGR of Hinoki trees behaves as an exponential decay function of the tree height over an 8-year management period. The stand-level parameters stand density, stand volume stocks, stand basal area, and relative spacing are with an error rate of less than 20% for both UAV-based and ALS-based approaches. Intensive management with regular thinning helps the plantation forests retain a clear crown shape feature, therefore, benefitting tree segmentation for deriving tree parameters and stand attributes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:27:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-30d1a75108554d1fafbb1285ba06fa40 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:27:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-30d1a75108554d1fafbb1285ba06fa402023-11-30T23:57:54ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922022-04-01147171310.3390/rs14071713Integrating UAV-SfM and Airborne Lidar Point Cloud Data to Plantation Forest Feature ExtractionTatsuki Yoshii0Naoto Matsumura1Chinsu Lin2Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, National Chiayi University, Chiayi 600355, TaiwanGraduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya-cho, Tsu City 514-8507, Mie, JapanDepartment of Forestry and Natural Resources, National Chiayi University, Chiayi 600355, TaiwanA low-cost but accurate remote-sensing-based forest-monitoring tool is necessary for regularly inventorying tree-level parameters and stand-level attributes to achieve sustainable management of timber production forests. Lidar technology is precise for multi-temporal data collection but expensive. A low-cost UAV-based optical sensing method is an economical and flexible alternative for collecting high-resolution images for generating point cloud data and orthophotos for mapping but lacks height accuracy. This study proposes a protocol of integrating a UAV equipped without an RTK instrument and airborne lidar sensors (ALS) for characterizing tree parameters and stand attributes for use in plantation forest management. The proposed method primarily relies on the ALS-based digital elevation model data (ALS-DEM), UAV-based structure-from-motion technique generated digital surface model data (UAV-SfM-DSM), and their derivative canopy height model data (UAV-SfM-CHM). Following traditional forest inventory approaches, a few middle-aged and mature stands of Hinoki cypress (<i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i>) plantation forests were used to investigate the performance of characterizing forest parameters via the canopy height model. Results show that the proposed method can improve UAV-SfM point cloud referencing transformation accuracy. With the derived CHM data, this method can estimate tree height with an RMSE ranging from 0.43 m to 1.65 m, equivalent to a PRMSE of 2.40–7.84%. The tree height estimates between UAV-based and ALS-based approaches are highly correlated (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.98, <i>p</i> < 0.0001), similarly, the height annual growth rate (HAGR) is also significantly correlated (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.78, <i>p</i> < 0.0001). The percentage HAGR of Hinoki trees behaves as an exponential decay function of the tree height over an 8-year management period. The stand-level parameters stand density, stand volume stocks, stand basal area, and relative spacing are with an error rate of less than 20% for both UAV-based and ALS-based approaches. Intensive management with regular thinning helps the plantation forests retain a clear crown shape feature, therefore, benefitting tree segmentation for deriving tree parameters and stand attributes.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/7/1713UAV-ALS point cloud georeferencingimproved ICP via invariant ground surface featuretree parameterizationairborne lidar sensingUAV optical sensingsustainable timber production |
| spellingShingle | Tatsuki Yoshii Naoto Matsumura Chinsu Lin Integrating UAV-SfM and Airborne Lidar Point Cloud Data to Plantation Forest Feature Extraction Remote Sensing UAV-ALS point cloud georeferencing improved ICP via invariant ground surface feature tree parameterization airborne lidar sensing UAV optical sensing sustainable timber production |
| title | Integrating UAV-SfM and Airborne Lidar Point Cloud Data to Plantation Forest Feature Extraction |
| title_full | Integrating UAV-SfM and Airborne Lidar Point Cloud Data to Plantation Forest Feature Extraction |
| title_fullStr | Integrating UAV-SfM and Airborne Lidar Point Cloud Data to Plantation Forest Feature Extraction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating UAV-SfM and Airborne Lidar Point Cloud Data to Plantation Forest Feature Extraction |
| title_short | Integrating UAV-SfM and Airborne Lidar Point Cloud Data to Plantation Forest Feature Extraction |
| title_sort | integrating uav sfm and airborne lidar point cloud data to plantation forest feature extraction |
| topic | UAV-ALS point cloud georeferencing improved ICP via invariant ground surface feature tree parameterization airborne lidar sensing UAV optical sensing sustainable timber production |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/7/1713 |
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