Investigation of the Relationship between Topographic and Forest Stand Characteristics Using Aerial Laser Scanning and Field Survey Data

Szász, Botond and Heil, Bálint and Kovács, Gábor and Heilig, Dávid and Veperdi, Gábor and Mészáros, Diána and Illés, Gábor and Czimber, Kornél (2024) Investigation of the Relationship between Topographic and Forest Stand Characteristics Using Aerial Laser Scanning and Field Survey Data. FORESTS, 15 (9). ISSN 1999-4907

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Abstract

The article thoroughly investigates the relationships between terrain features and tree measurements derived from aerial laser scanning (ALS) data and field surveys in a 1067-hectare forested area. A digital elevation model (DEM) was generated from ALS data, which was then used to derive additional layers such as slope, aspect, topographic position index (TPI), and landforms. The authors developed a mathematical procedure to determine the radii for the topographic position index. The canopy height model was created, and individual trees were segmented using a novel voxel aggregation method, allowing for the calculation of tree height and crown size. Accuracy assessments were conducted between ALS-derived data and field-collected data. Terrain variability within each forest unit was evaluated using characteristics such as standard deviation, entropy, and frequency. The relationships between tree height and the derived topographic features within forest subcompartments, as well as the correlation between the height yield map for the entire area and the TPI layer, were analysed. The authors found strong correlation between the topographic position index and tree heights in both cases. The presented remote-sensing-based methodology and the results can be effectively used in digital forest site mapping, complemented by field sampling and laboratory soil analyses, and, as final goal, in carbon stock assessment.

Tudományterület / tudományág

agricultural sciences > forestry and wildlife management
engineering and technology > agricultural engineering

Faculty

Not relevant

Institution

Soproni Egyetem

Item Type:	Article
SWORD Depositor:	Teszt Sword
Depositing User:	Csaba Horváth
Identification Number:	MTMT:35202802
Date Deposited:	08 Oct 2024 10:46
Last Modified:	08 Oct 2024 10:46
URI:	http://publicatio.uni-sopron.hu/id/eprint/3284

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