Skip to Main Content
U.S. Forest Service
Caring for the land and serving people

United States Department of Agriculture

Home > Search > Publication Information

  1. Optimizing variable radius plot size and LiDAR resolution to model standing volume in conifer forests

    Share via EmailShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare on Twitter
    Dislike this pubLike this pub
    Author(s): Ram Kumar Deo; Robert E. Froese; Michael J. Falkowski; Andrew T. Hudak
    Date: 2016
    Source: Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing 42(5): 428-442.
    Publication Series: Scientific Journal (JRNL)
    Station: Rocky Mountain Research Station
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07038992.2016.1220826
    PDF: Download Publication  (663.0 KB)

    Description

    The conventional approach to LiDAR-based forest inventory modeling depends on field sample data from fixed-radius plots (FRP). Because FRP sampling is cost intensive, combining variable-radius plot (VRP) sampling and LiDAR data has the potential to improve inventory efficiency. The overarching goal of this study was to evaluate the integration of LiDAR and VRP data. FRP and VRP plots using different basal-area factors (BAF) were co-located in 6 conifer stands near Alberta, Michigan, in the United States. A suite of LiDAR metrics was developed for 24 different resolutions at each plot location, and a number of nonparametric prediction models were evaluated to identify an optimal LiDAR resolution and an optimal scale of VRP to spatially extend the data. An FRP-based model had root mean square error (RMSE) of 31.8 m3 ha-1, whereas the top VRP-based models were somewhat less precise, with RMSE of 38.0 m3 ha-1 and 45.8 m3 ha-1 using BAF 2.06 m2 ha-1 and BAF 2.29 m2 ha-1, respectively. The optimal LiDAR resolution for the VRP data was found to be 18 m for the selected stands, and plot-level estimates based on a model using BAF 2.29 m2 ha-1 were statistically equivalent to the FRP measurements. The use of VRP data shows promise and can substitute for FRP measurements to improve efficiency.

    Publication Notes

    • You may send email to rmrspubrequest@fs.fed.us to request a hard copy of this publication.
    • (Please specify exactly which publication you are requesting and your mailing address.)
    • We recommend that you also print this page and attach it to the printout of the article, to retain the full citation information.
    • This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.

    Citation

    Deo, Ram Kumar; Froese, Robert E.; Falkowski, Michael J.; Hudak, Andrew T. 2016. Optimizing variable radius plot size and LiDAR resolution to model standing volume in conifer forests. Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing 42(5): 428-442.

    Cited

    Google Scholar

    Keywords

    LiDAR, forest inventory, modeling, fixed-radius plots (FRP), variable-radius plot (VRP), sampling

    Related Search

    XML: View XML
Show More
Show Fewer
Jump to Top of Page
https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/53368