Delineating and Reconstructing 3D Forest Fuel Components and Volumes with Terrestrial Laser Scanning
Predictive accuracy in wildland fire behavior is contingent on a thorough understanding of the 3D fuel distribution. However, this task is complicated by the complex nature of fuel forms and the associated constraints in sampling and quantification. In this study, twelve terrestrial laser scanning (...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-09-01
|
| Series: | Remote Sensing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/19/4778 |
| _version_ | 1797575221332410368 |
|---|---|
| author | Zhouxin Xi Laura Chasmer Chris Hopkinson |
| author_facet | Zhouxin Xi Laura Chasmer Chris Hopkinson |
| author_sort | Zhouxin Xi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Predictive accuracy in wildland fire behavior is contingent on a thorough understanding of the 3D fuel distribution. However, this task is complicated by the complex nature of fuel forms and the associated constraints in sampling and quantification. In this study, twelve terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) plot scans were sampled within the mountain pine beetle-impacted forests of Jasper National Park, Canada. The TLS point clouds were delineated into eight classes, namely individual-tree stems, branches, foliage, downed woody logs, sapling stems, below-canopy branches, grass layer, and ground-surface points using a transformer-based deep learning classifier. The fine-scale 3D architecture of trees and branches was reconstructed using a quantitative structural model (QSM) based on the multi-class components from the previous step, with volume attributes extracted and analyzed at the branch, tree, and plot levels. The classification accuracy was evaluated by partially validating the results through field measurements of tree height, diameter-at-breast height (DBH), and live crown base height (LCBH). The extraction and reconstruction of 3D wood components enable advanced fuel characterization with high heterogeneity. The existence of ladder trees was found to increase the vertical overlap of volumes between tree branches and below-canopy branches from 8.4% to 10.8%. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:35:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-488aa66e94854295b4f5c0349bc92624 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:35:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-488aa66e94854295b4f5c0349bc926242023-11-19T14:59:49ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922023-09-011519477810.3390/rs15194778Delineating and Reconstructing 3D Forest Fuel Components and Volumes with Terrestrial Laser ScanningZhouxin Xi0Laura Chasmer1Chris Hopkinson2Department of Geography & Environment, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, CanadaDepartment of Geography & Environment, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, CanadaDepartment of Geography & Environment, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, CanadaPredictive accuracy in wildland fire behavior is contingent on a thorough understanding of the 3D fuel distribution. However, this task is complicated by the complex nature of fuel forms and the associated constraints in sampling and quantification. In this study, twelve terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) plot scans were sampled within the mountain pine beetle-impacted forests of Jasper National Park, Canada. The TLS point clouds were delineated into eight classes, namely individual-tree stems, branches, foliage, downed woody logs, sapling stems, below-canopy branches, grass layer, and ground-surface points using a transformer-based deep learning classifier. The fine-scale 3D architecture of trees and branches was reconstructed using a quantitative structural model (QSM) based on the multi-class components from the previous step, with volume attributes extracted and analyzed at the branch, tree, and plot levels. The classification accuracy was evaluated by partially validating the results through field measurements of tree height, diameter-at-breast height (DBH), and live crown base height (LCBH). The extraction and reconstruction of 3D wood components enable advanced fuel characterization with high heterogeneity. The existence of ladder trees was found to increase the vertical overlap of volumes between tree branches and below-canopy branches from 8.4% to 10.8%.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/19/4778terrestrial laser scanningquantitative structural modeldeep learningforestlidarfuel |
| spellingShingle | Zhouxin Xi Laura Chasmer Chris Hopkinson Delineating and Reconstructing 3D Forest Fuel Components and Volumes with Terrestrial Laser Scanning Remote Sensing terrestrial laser scanning quantitative structural model deep learning forest lidar fuel |
| title | Delineating and Reconstructing 3D Forest Fuel Components and Volumes with Terrestrial Laser Scanning |
| title_full | Delineating and Reconstructing 3D Forest Fuel Components and Volumes with Terrestrial Laser Scanning |
| title_fullStr | Delineating and Reconstructing 3D Forest Fuel Components and Volumes with Terrestrial Laser Scanning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Delineating and Reconstructing 3D Forest Fuel Components and Volumes with Terrestrial Laser Scanning |
| title_short | Delineating and Reconstructing 3D Forest Fuel Components and Volumes with Terrestrial Laser Scanning |
| title_sort | delineating and reconstructing 3d forest fuel components and volumes with terrestrial laser scanning |
| topic | terrestrial laser scanning quantitative structural model deep learning forest lidar fuel |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/19/4778 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhouxinxi delineatingandreconstructing3dforestfuelcomponentsandvolumeswithterrestriallaserscanning AT laurachasmer delineatingandreconstructing3dforestfuelcomponentsandvolumeswithterrestriallaserscanning AT chrishopkinson delineatingandreconstructing3dforestfuelcomponentsandvolumeswithterrestriallaserscanning |