Estimating Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) Using iPad Pro LiDAR Sensor in Boreal Forests
Traditional Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) mensuration is labor-intensive and costly. This scoping study explored the possibility of using the Apple iPad Pro Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) sensor to estimate DBH. Three plots were scanned in a research plantation near Thunder Bay, Canada. Sites...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07038992.2023.2295470 |
| _version_ | 1826908648575598592 |
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| author | Matthew Guenther Muditha K. Heenkenda Brigitte Leblon Dave Morris Jason Freeburn |
| author_facet | Matthew Guenther Muditha K. Heenkenda Brigitte Leblon Dave Morris Jason Freeburn |
| author_sort | Matthew Guenther |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traditional Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) mensuration is labor-intensive and costly. This scoping study explored the possibility of using the Apple iPad Pro Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) sensor to estimate DBH. Three plots were scanned in a research plantation near Thunder Bay, Canada. Sites consisted of either Black Spruce (Picea mariana) or Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) planted with different initial densities. DBH was manually measured for validation. Point clouds were acquired for each plot using three scanning patterns; circular, figure-8, and transect. Single and five cross sections of 4 or 10 cm in thickness were extracted from each point cloud, centered at 1.3 m above the ground. Two circle fitting algorithms (Pratt, Taubin) and two ellipse fitting algorithms (Taubin, Szpak) were applied to the extracted cross-sections to estimate DBH. Scanning pattern and curve-fitting formula significantly impacted DBH estimate accuracy (p-value ≤ 0.001), while cross-section count and thickness did not. The circular scanning pattern with a single 4 cm cross-section and a combination of circle- and ellipse-fitting formulas was the most accurate DBH estimation method (RMSE = 1.1 cm; 6.17%). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:47:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa264c3152304981acc3c665da4b2a6f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1712-7971 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-17T09:28:04Z |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa264c3152304981acc3c665da4b2a6f2025-01-02T11:34:20ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCanadian Journal of Remote Sensing1712-79712024-12-0150110.1080/07038992.2023.22954702295470Estimating Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) Using iPad Pro LiDAR Sensor in Boreal ForestsMatthew Guenther0Muditha K. Heenkenda1Brigitte Leblon2Dave Morris3Jason Freeburn4Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead UniversityDepartment of Geography and the Environment, Lakehead UniversityFaculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead UniversityCentre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryDepartment of Geography and the Environment, Lakehead UniversityTraditional Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) mensuration is labor-intensive and costly. This scoping study explored the possibility of using the Apple iPad Pro Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) sensor to estimate DBH. Three plots were scanned in a research plantation near Thunder Bay, Canada. Sites consisted of either Black Spruce (Picea mariana) or Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) planted with different initial densities. DBH was manually measured for validation. Point clouds were acquired for each plot using three scanning patterns; circular, figure-8, and transect. Single and five cross sections of 4 or 10 cm in thickness were extracted from each point cloud, centered at 1.3 m above the ground. Two circle fitting algorithms (Pratt, Taubin) and two ellipse fitting algorithms (Taubin, Szpak) were applied to the extracted cross-sections to estimate DBH. Scanning pattern and curve-fitting formula significantly impacted DBH estimate accuracy (p-value ≤ 0.001), while cross-section count and thickness did not. The circular scanning pattern with a single 4 cm cross-section and a combination of circle- and ellipse-fitting formulas was the most accurate DBH estimation method (RMSE = 1.1 cm; 6.17%).http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07038992.2023.2295470 |
| spellingShingle | Matthew Guenther Muditha K. Heenkenda Brigitte Leblon Dave Morris Jason Freeburn Estimating Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) Using iPad Pro LiDAR Sensor in Boreal Forests Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing |
| title | Estimating Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) Using iPad Pro LiDAR Sensor in Boreal Forests |
| title_full | Estimating Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) Using iPad Pro LiDAR Sensor in Boreal Forests |
| title_fullStr | Estimating Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) Using iPad Pro LiDAR Sensor in Boreal Forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Estimating Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) Using iPad Pro LiDAR Sensor in Boreal Forests |
| title_short | Estimating Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) Using iPad Pro LiDAR Sensor in Boreal Forests |
| title_sort | estimating tree diameter at breast height dbh using ipad pro lidar sensor in boreal forests |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07038992.2023.2295470 |
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