scholarly journals Towards Tree Green Crown Volume: A Methodological Approach Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zihui Zhu ◽  
Christoph Kleinn ◽  
Nils Nölke
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Volume Index ◽  
Convex Hulls ◽  
Tree Crown ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Matter Production

Crown volume is a tree attribute relevant in a number of contexts, including photosynthesis and matter production, storm resistance, shadowing of lower layers, habitat for various taxa. While commonly the total crown volume is being determined, for example by wrapping a convex hull around the crown, we present here a methodological approach towards assessing the tree green crown volume (TGCVol), the crown volume with a high density of foliage, which we derive by terrestrial laser scanning in a case study of solitary urban trees. Using the RGB information, we removed the hits on stem and branches within the tree crown and used the remaining leaf hits to determine TGCVol from k-means clustering and convex hulls for the resulting green 3D clusters. We derived a tree green crown volume index (TGCVI) relating the green crown volume to the total crown volume. This TGCVI is a measure of how much a crown is “filled with green” and scale-dependent (a function of specifications of the k-means clustering). Our study is a step towards a standardized assessment of tree green crown volume. We do also address a number of remaining methodological challenges.

Nondestructive Tree Stem and Crown Volume Allometry in Hybrid Poplar Plantations Derived from Terrestrial Laser Scanning

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 737-746
Author(s):  
Francesco Chianucci ◽  
Nicola Puletti ◽  
Mirko Grotti ◽  
Carlotta Ferrara ◽  
Achille Giorcelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Tree Crown ◽  
Crown Volume ◽  
Tree Inventory ◽  
Entry Models ◽  
Poplar Plantations ◽  
Volume Estimates ◽  
Tree Stem

Abstract Accurate and frequently updated tree volume estimates are required for poplar plantations, which are characterized by fast growth rate and short rotation. In this study, we tested the potential of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) as a reliable method for developing nondestructive tree volume allometries in poplar plantations. The trial was conducted in Italy, where 4- to 10-year-old hybrid plantations were sampled to develop tree crown volume allometry in leaf-on conditions, tree stem volume, and height-diameter allometries in leaf-off conditions. We tested one-entry models based on diameter and two-entry models based on both diameter and height. Model performance was assessed by residual analysis. Results indicate that TLS can provide accurate models of tree stem and crown volume, with percentage of root-mean-square error of about 20 percent and 15 percent, respectively. The inclusion of height does not bring relevant improvement in the models, so that only diameter can be used to predict tree stem and crown volume. The TLS-measured stem volume estimates agreed with an available formula derived from harvesting. We concluded that TLS is a reliable method for developing nondestructive volume allometries in poplar plantations and holds great potential to enhance conventional tree inventory and monitoring. Study Implications: Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) is a technique that allows nondestructive measurement of the three-dimensional structure of a tree with high precision and low cost. The ability of TLS to measure both tree crown volume and tree position can be effective to test optimal spacing requirements and also to test innovative schemes such as mixed or polycyclic poplar plantations. The spatially explicit nature of TLS measurements allows better integration with different remotely sensed sensors, which can be used in combination with TLS, enabling a multiscale assessment of poplar plantation structure with different levels of detail, enhancing conventional tree inventory and supporting effective management strategies.

scholarly journals Can Leaf Water Content Be Estimated Using Multispectral Terrestrial Laser Scanning? A Case Study With Norway Spruce Seedlings

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuli Junttila ◽  
Junko Sugano ◽  
Mikko Vastaranta ◽  
Riikka Linnakoski ◽  
Harri Kaartinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Leaf Water ◽  
Leaf Water Content

scholarly journals Measuring the Contribution of Leaves to the Structural Complexity of Urban Tree Crowns with Terrestrial Laser Scanning

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 2773
Author(s):  
Georgios Arseniou ◽  
David W. MacFarlane ◽  
Dominik Seidel
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Box Dimension ◽  
State University ◽  
Leaf Removal ◽  
Quercus Macrocarpa ◽  
Methodological Considerations

Trees have a fractal-like branching architecture that determines their structural complexity. We used terrestrial laser scanning technology to study the role of foliage in the structural complexity of urban trees. Forty-five trees of three deciduous species, Gleditsia triacanthos, Quercus macrocarpa, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, were sampled on the Michigan State University campus. We studied their structural complexity by calculating the box-dimension (Db) metric from point clouds generated for the trees using terrestrial laser scanning, during the leaf-on and -off conditions. Furthermore, we artificially defoliated the leaf-on point clouds by applying an algorithm that separates the foliage from the woody material of the trees, and then recalculated the Db metric. The Db of the leaf-on tree point clouds was significantly greater than the Db of the leaf-off point clouds across all species. Additionally, the leaf removal algorithm introduced bias to the estimation of the leaf-removed Db of the G. triacanthos and M. glyptostroboides trees. The index capturing the contribution of leaves to the structural complexity of the study trees (the ratio of the Db of the leaf-on point clouds divided by the Db of the leaf-off point clouds minus one), was negatively correlated with branch surface area and different metrics of the length of paths through the branch network of the trees, indicating that the contribution of leaves decreases as branch network complexity increases. Underestimation of the Db of the G. triacanthos trees, after the artificial leaf removal, was related to maximum branch order. These results enhance our understanding of tree structural complexity by disentangling the contribution of leaves from that of the woody structures. The study also highlighted important methodological considerations for studying tree structure, with and without leaves, from laser-derived point clouds.

scholarly journals Geomorphometric analysis of cave ceiling channels mapped with 3D terrestrial laser scanning

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Gallay ◽  
Zdenko Hochmuth ◽  
Ján Kaňuk ◽  
Jaroslav Hofierka
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Scalar Fields ◽  
Complex Environments ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Unique Manner ◽  
Elevation Model ◽  
Different Levels

Abstract. The change of hydrological conditions during the evolution of caves in carbonate rocks often results in a complex subterranean geomorphology which comprises specific landforms such as ceiling channels, anastomosing half tubes, or speleothems organised vertically in different levels. Studying such complex environments traditionally requires tedious mapping, however, this is being replaced with terrestrial laser scanning technology. Laser scanning overcomes the problem of reaching high ceilings providing new options to map underground landscapes with unprecedented level of detail and accuracy. The acquired point cloud can be handled conveniently with dedicated software, but applying traditional geomorphometry to analyse the cave surface is limited. This is because geomorphometry has been focused on parameterisation and analysis of surficial terrain. The theoretical and methodological concept has been based on two-dimensional scalar fields which is sufficient for most cases of the surficial terrain. The terrain surface is modelled with a bivariate function of altitude (elevation) and represented by a raster digital elevation model. However, the cave is a three-dimensional entity therefore a different approach is required for geomorphometric analysis. In this paper, we demonstrate the benefits of high resolution cave mapping and 3-D modelling to better understand the palaeohydrography of the Domica cave in Slovakia. This methodological approach adopted traditional geomorphometric methods in a unique manner and also new methods used in 3D computer graphics which can be applied to study other 3-D geomorphological forms

scholarly journals Geomorphometric analysis of cave ceiling channels mapped with 3-D terrestrial laser scanning

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1827-1849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Gallay ◽  
Zdenko Hochmuth ◽  
Ján Kaňuk ◽  
Jaroslav Hofierka
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Scalar Fields ◽  
Complex Environments ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Unique Manner ◽  
Elevation Model ◽  
Different Levels

Abstract. The change of hydrological conditions during the evolution of caves in carbonate rocks often results in a complex subterranean geomorphology, which comprises specific landforms such as ceiling channels, anastomosing half tubes, or speleothems organized vertically in different levels. Studying such complex environments traditionally requires tedious mapping; however, this is being replaced with terrestrial laser scanning technology. Laser scanning overcomes the problem of reaching high ceilings, providing new options to map underground landscapes with unprecedented level of detail and accuracy. The acquired point cloud can be handled conveniently with dedicated software, but applying traditional geomorphometry to analyse the cave surface is limited. This is because geomorphometry has been focused on parameterization and analysis of surficial terrain. The theoretical and methodological concept has been based on two-dimensional (2-D) scalar fields, which are sufficient for most cases of the surficial terrain. The terrain surface is modelled with a bivariate function of altitude (elevation) and represented by a raster digital elevation model. However, the cave is a 3-D entity; therefore, a different approach is required for geomorphometric analysis. In this paper, we demonstrate the benefits of high-resolution cave mapping and 3-D modelling to better understand the palaeohydrography of the Domica cave in Slovakia. This methodological approach adopted traditional geomorphometric methods in a unique manner and also new methods used in 3-D computer graphics, which can be applied to study other 3-D geomorphological forms.

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