Measuring tree growth by modeling multi-temporal LiDAR

Crown volume is defined as the geometric space occupied by the crown. Crown volume and the change (growth) of crown volume over time can be an important part of multi-temporal forest analyses but is expensive and time consuming to obtain through conventional forest survey methods for large, remote a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Frew, Michael S
Format: Dissertation
Language:English
Published: Ann Arbor ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 2013
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Summary:Crown volume is defined as the geometric space occupied by the crown. Crown volume and the change (growth) of crown volume over time can be an important part of multi-temporal forest analyses but is expensive and time consuming to obtain through conventional forest survey methods for large, remote areas. LiDAR-derived crown volume growth was compared to an expected amount of crown volume growth for 220 Douglas-fir trees in the Panther Creek, Oregon watershed. A paired t-test between expected crown volume growth and the LiDAR-derived crown volume growth resulted in a p-value of 0.85. Regression procedures between expected crown volume and LiDAR-derived crown volume in 2008 and 2012 resulted in R2 values of 0.45 and 0.53, respectively. LiDAR measured change in crown volume over time was not significantly different than the expected amount of change. With further research, multi-temporal LiDAR could become a viable tool for forest analyses.
Bibliography:Forestry.
Adviser: David L. Evans.
Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 52-02.
ISBN:1303295563
9781303295560