Multisource Single-Tree Inventory in the Prediction of Tree Quality Variables and Logging Recoveries

Remote Sensing

Mikko Vastaranta¹  Ninni Saarinen¹  Ville Kankare¹  Markus Holopainen¹  Harri Kaartinen²  Juha Hyyppä² 

[1] Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; E-Mails:;Centre of Excellence in Laser Scanning Research, Finnish Geodetic Institute, FI-02431 Masala, Finland; E-Mails:

关键词: airborne laser scanning;    LiDAR;    terrestrial laser scanning;    mobile laser scanning;    forest technology;    forestry;    forest;    GIS;    remote sensing;   

DOI  :  10.3390/rs6043475

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The stem diameter distribution, stem form and quality information must be measured as accurately as possible to optimize cutting. For a detailed measurement of the stands, we developed and demonstrated the use of a multisource single-tree inventory (MS-STI). The two major bottlenecks in the current airborne laser scanning (ALS)-based single-tree-level inventory, tree detection and tree species recognition, are avoided in MS-STI. In addition to airborne 3D data, such as ALS, MS-STI requires an existing tree map with tree species information as the input information. In operational forest management, tree mapping would be carried out after or during the first thinning. It should be highlighted that the tree map is a challenging prerequisite, but that the recent development in mobile 2D and 3D laser scanning indicates that the solution is within reach. In our study, the tested input tree map was produced by terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and by using a Global Navigation Satellite System. Predictors for tree quality attributes were extracted from ALS data or digital stereo imagery (DSI) and used in the nearest-neighbor estimation approach. Stem distribution was compiled by summing the predicted single-tree measures. The accuracy of the MS-STI was validated using harvester data (timber assortments) and field measures (stem diameter, tree height). RMSEs for tree height, diameter, saw log volume and pulpwood volume varied from 4.2% to 5.3%, from 10.9% to 19.9%, from 28.7% to 43.5% and from 125.1% to 134.3%, respectively. Stand-level saw log recoveries differed from −2.2% to 1.3% from the harvester measurements, as the respective differences in pulpwood recovery were between −3.0% and 10.6%. We conclude that MS-STI improves the predictions of stem-diameter distributions and provides accurate estimates for tree quality variables if an accurate tree map is available.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland