scholarly journals Coupling Terrestrial Laser Scanning with 3D Fuel Biomass Sampling for Advancing Wildland Fuels Characterization

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Rowell ◽  
E. Louise Loudermilk ◽  
Christie Hawley ◽  
Scott Pokswinski ◽  
Carl Seielstad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Field Sampling ◽  
Volume Porosity

AbstractThe spatial pattern of surface fuelbeds in fire-dependent ecosystems are rarely captured using long-standing fuel sampling methods. New techniques, both field sampling and remote sensing, that capture vegetation fuel type, biomass, and volume at super fine-scales (cm to dm) in three-dimensions (3D) are critical to advancing forest fuel and wildland fire science. This is particularly true for computational fluid dynamics fire behavior models that operate in 3D and have implications for wildland fire operations and fire effects research. This study describes the coupling of new 3D field sampling data with terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data to infer fine-scale fuel mass in 3D. We found that there are strong relationships between fine-scale mass and TLS occupied volume, porosity, and surface area, which were used to develop fine-scale prediction equations using TLS across vegetative fuel types, namely grasses and shrubs. The application of this novel 3D sampling technique to high resolution TLS data in this study represents a major advancement in understanding fire-vegetation feedbacks in highly managed fire-dependent ecosystems.

scholarly journals Estimating Fuel Loads and Structural Characteristics of Shrub Communities by Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 3704
Author(s):  
Cecilia Alonso-Rego ◽  
Stéfano Arellano-Pérez ◽  
Carlos Cabo ◽  
Celestino Ordoñez ◽  
Juan Gabriel Álvarez-González ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Fire Hazard ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Fuel Load ◽  
Fuel Loads ◽  
Litter Depth ◽  
Species Specific

Forest fuel loads and structural characteristics strongly affect fire behavior, regulating the rate of spread, fireline intensity, and flame length. Accurate fuel characterization, including disaggregation of the fuel load by size classes, is therefore essential to obtain reliable predictions from fire behavior simulators and to support decision-making in fuel management and fire hazard prediction. A total of 55 sample plots of four of the main non-tree covered shrub communities in NW Spain were non-destructively sampled to estimate litter depth and shrub cover and height for species. Fuel loads were estimated from species-specific equations. Moreover, a single terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) scan was collected in each sample plot and features related to the vertical and horizontal distribution of the cloud points were calculated. Two alternative approaches for estimating size-disaggregated fuel loads and live/dead fractions from TLS data were compared: (i) a two-steps indirect estimation approach (IE) based on fitting three equations to estimate shrub height and cover and litter depth from TLS data and then use those estimates as inputs of the existing species-specific fuel load equations by size fractions based on these three variables; and (ii) a direct estimation approach (DE), consisting of fitting seven equations, one for each fuel fraction, to relate the fuel load estimates to TLS data. Overall, the direct approach produced more balanced goodness-of-fit statistics for the seven fractions considered jointly, suggesting that it performed better than the indirect approach, with equations explaining more than 80% of the observed variability for all species and fractions, except the litter loads.

PREDICTING WILDLAND FIRE BEHAVIOR AND EMISSIONS USING A FINE-SCALE PHYSICAL MODEL

2005 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 571-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Porterie ◽  
J. L. Consalvi ◽  
A. Kaiss ◽  
J. C. Loraud
Keyword(s):  
Physical Model ◽  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Fine Scale

Numerical Prediction of the Fire Spread in Vegetative Fuels Using NISTWFDS Model

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 177-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadj Miloua
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Radiation Heat Transfer ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Reaction Diffusion ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Fire Dynamics ◽  
Wind Climate

Current study focuses to the application of an advanced physics-based (reaction–diffusion) fire behavior model to the fires spreading through surface vegetation such as grasslands and elevated vegetation such as trees present in forest stands. This model in three dimensions, called Wildland Fire Dynamics Simulator WFDS, is an extension, to vegetative fuels, of the structural FDS developed at NIST. For simplicity, the vegetation was assumed to be uniformly distributed in a tree crown represented by a well defined geometric shape. This work on will focus on predictions of thermal function such as the radiation heat transfer and and thermal function for diverse cases of spatial distribution of vegetation in forest stands. The influence of wind, climate characteristics and terrain topography will also be used to extend and validate the model. The results obtained provide a basis to carry out a risk analysis for fire spread in the studied vegetative fuels in the Mediterranean forest fires.

scholarly journals Tree canopy and snow depth relationships at fine scales with terrestrial laser scanning

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Hojatimalekshah ◽  
Zach Uhlmann ◽  
Nancy F. Glenn ◽  
Christopher A. Hiemstra ◽  
Christopher J. Tennant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Snow Depth ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Local Scale ◽  
Snow Accumulation ◽  
Tree Structure ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Understanding the impact of tree structure on snow depth and extent is important in order to make predictions of snow amounts, and how changes in forest cover may affect future water resources. In this work, we investigate snow depth under tree canopies and in open areas to quantify the role of tree structure in controlling snow depth, as well as the controls from wind and topography. We use fine scale terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data collected across Grand Mesa, Colorado, USA, to measure the snow depth and extract horizontal and vertical tree descriptors (metrics) at six sites. We apply the Marker-controlled watershed algorithm for individual tree segmentation and measure the snow depth using the Multi-scale Model to Model Cloud Comparison algorithm. Canopy, topography and snow interaction results indicate that vegetation structural metrics (specifically foliage height diversity) along with local scale processes such as wind are highly influential on snow depth variation. Our study specifies that windward slopes show greater impact on snow accumulation than vegetation metrics. In addition, the results emphasize the importance of tree species and distribution on snow depth patterns. Fine scale analysis from TLS provides information on local scale controls, and provides an opportunity to be readily coupled with airborne or spaceborne lidar to investigate larger-scale controls on snow depth.

scholarly journals Wildland Fire Behaviour Case Studies and Fuel Models for Landscape-Scale Fire Modeling

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul-Antoine Santoni ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Filippi ◽  
Jacques-Henri Balbi ◽  
Frédéric Bosseur
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Fuel Models

This work presents the extension of a physical model for the spreading of surface fire at landscape scale. In previous work, the model was validated at laboratory scale for fire spreading across litters. The model was then modified to consider the structure of actual vegetation and was included in the wildland fire calculation system Forefire that allows converting the two-dimensional model of fire spread to three dimensions, taking into account spatial information. Two wildland fire behavior case studies were elaborated and used as a basis to test the simulator. Both fires were reconstructed, paying attention to the vegetation mapping, fire history, and meteorological data. The local calibration of the simulator required the development of appropriate fuel models for shrubland vegetation (maquis) for use with the model of fire spread. This study showed the capabilities of the simulator during the typical drought season characterizing the Mediterranean climate when most wildfires occur.

scholarly journals Four Dimensional Mapping of Vegetation Moisture Content Using Dual-Wavelength Terrestrial Laser Scanning

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 2311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Elsherif ◽  
Rachel Gaulton ◽  
Jon Mills
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Optical Remote Sensing ◽  
Canopy Reflectance ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Biochemical Traits ◽  
Equivalent Water Thickness ◽  
Vertical Heterogeneity

Recently, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has shown potential in measuring vegetation biochemical traits in three dimensions (3D) by using reflectance derived from backscattered intensity data. The 3D estimates can provide information about the vertical heterogeneity of canopy biochemical traits which affects canopy reflectance but cannot be measured from spaceborne and airborne optical remote sensing data. Leaf equivalent water thickness (EWT), a metric widely used in vegetation health monitoring, has been successfully linked to the normalized difference index (NDI) of near and shortwave infrared wavelengths at the leaf level. However, only two previous studies have linked EWT to NDI at the canopy level in field campaigns. In this study, an NDI consisting of 808 and 1550 nm wavelengths was used to generate 3D EWT estimates at the canopy level in a broadleaf mixed-species tree plot during and after a heatwave. The relative error in EWT estimates was 6% across four different species. Temporal changes in EWT were measured, and the accuracy varied between trees, a factor of the errors in EWT estimates on both dates. Vertical profiles of EWT were generated for six trees and showed vertical heterogeneity and variation between species. The change in EWT vertical profiles during and after the heatwave differed between trees, demonstrating that trees reacted in different ways to the drought condition.

scholarly journals Reconstructing flood basalt lava flows in three dimensions using terrestrial laser scanning

Geosphere ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Nelson ◽  
D. A. Jerram ◽  
R. W. Hobbs ◽  
R. Terrington ◽  
H. Kessler
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Flood Basalt ◽  
Lava Flows ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Basalt Lava

scholarly journals FAST AND ROBUST STEM RECONSTRUCTION IN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTS USING TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING

2016 ◽  
Vol XLI-B3 ◽  
pp. 411-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Wang ◽  
M. Hollaus ◽  
E. Puttonen ◽  
N. Pfeifer
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Sampling Rate ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Computation Time ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Complex Environments ◽  
Forest Research ◽  
Advanced Sampling

Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) is an effective tool in forest research and management. However, accurate estimation of tree parameters still remains challenging in complex forests. In this paper, we present a novel algorithm for stem modeling in complex environments. This method does not require accurate delineation of stem points from the original point cloud. The stem reconstruction features a self-adaptive cylinder growing scheme. This algorithm is tested for a landslide region in the federal state of Vorarlberg, Austria. The algorithm results are compared with field reference data, which show that our algorithm is able to accurately retrieve the diameter at breast height (DBH) with a root mean square error (RMSE) of ~1.9 cm. This algorithm is further facilitated by applying an advanced sampling technique. Different sampling rates are applied and tested. It is found that a sampling rate of 7.5% is already able to retain the stem fitting quality and simultaneously reduce the computation time significantly by ~88%.

scholarly journals Annual Shoot Segmentation and Physiological Age Classification from TLS Data in Trees with Acrotonic Growth

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 391
Author(s):  
Bastien Lecigne ◽  
Sylvain Delagrange ◽  
Olivier Taugourdeau
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Physiological Age ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Scale Analysis ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Finite Set ◽  
Tree Length ◽  
Total Tree

The development of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has opened new avenues in the study of trees. Although TLS provides valuable information on structural elements, fine-scale analysis, e.g., at the annual shoots (AS) scale, is currently not possible. We present a new model to segment and classify AS from tree skeletons into a finite set of “physiological ages” (i.e., state of specialization and physiological age (PA)). When testing the model against perfect data, 90% of AS year and 99% of AS physiological ages were correctly extracted. AS length-estimated errors varied between 0.39 cm and 2.57 cm depending on the PA. When applying the model to tree reconstructions using real-life simulated TLS data, 50% of the AS and 77% of the total tree length are reconstructed. Using an architectural automaton to deal with non-reconstructed short axes, errors associated with AS number and length were reduced to 5% and 12%, respectively. Finally, the model was applied to real trees and was consistent with previous findings obtained from manual measurements in a similar context. This new method could be used for determining tree phenotype or for analyzing tree architecture.

scholarly journals BOAT-BASED MOBILE LASER SCANNING FOR SHORELINE MONITORING OF LARGE LAKES

2021 ◽  
Vol XLIII-B2-2021 ◽  
pp. 759-762
Author(s):  
D. Schneider ◽  
R. Blaskow
Keyword(s):  
Water Body ◽  
Point Cloud ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Shore Protection ◽  
Large Lakes ◽  
Protection Measures

Abstract. In many applications, it is necessary to measure the shore areas of water bodies in three dimensions, for example for the planning of shore protection measures or regularly for water body monitoring. The complete recording of long shorelines can be very time-consuming with conventional methods. This paper presents the surveying of two lakes using a mobile laser scanner system. In order to close non-visible areas, the measurement was supplemented with terrestrial laser scanning and with UAV-supported photogrammetric methods. The result is an almost complete point cloud of the shoreline, each more than 8 km long, with a point spacing of a few millimetres.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document