Aboveground forest biomass estimation at the individual tree level using terrestrial LiDAR
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v16i89.1542Keywords:
Biomass, TLS, LiDAR, Point Cloud, DAPAbstract
Forest ecosystems play a key role in carbon storage, highlighting the importance of accurately estimating the tree biomass. The objective was to estimate the forest biomass using a laser scanner (LiDAR, Light Detection and Ranging), specifically a terrestrial device (TLS, Terrestrial Laser Scanner), at the individual tree level. Thirty-one trees were selected from a Pinus cooperi regular stand, whose diameter at breast height (DBH) and height (h) variables were measured in a traditional way. TLS data were collected with a model Focus M70 FARO® laser scanner and processed to three-dimensionally model the logs and calculate their biomass. These data were compared with estimates obtained by allometric equations and traditional measurements. Results indicate that the TLS is accurate in measuring diameters (R2=0.72 and RMSE=1.28 cm), compared to traditional methods. However, it underestimates the tree height (R2=0.79 and RMSE=1.68 m), affecting the accuracy of the biomass calculation. Although the TLS provided acceptable estimates, these were lower than those obtained using allometric equations. In conclusion, TLS is a promising tool for nondestructive biomass studies. Future work should consider in greater detail the influence of the characteristics of the studied area, the scanning methodology, and the algorithms applied in the estimation of biomass.
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