Digital surface model of tree canopy structure from LIDAR data through implicit surface reconstruction

Akira Kato, Gerald F. Schreuder, Donna Calhoun, Peter Schiess, Werner Stuetzle

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Tree canopy structure is an important factor in forest fire, plant physiology, and tree competition. Quantifying the tree canopy structures is difficult due to the irregular shapes and spacing of the trees. Our method for estimating the canopy structure is based on Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data. LIDAR has three-dimensional point distribution which allows us to ascertain the shape of objects on the ground. Our method consists of three steps. First, we partition the LIDAR points into subsets corresponding to individual trees using level set methods. Second, for each tree we select a subset of points near the crown surface. Finally, we use an isosurface method with radial basis functions to reconstruct the crown surface of each tree from the selected points. The resulting surface provides more precise information about crown base height, which was difficult to measure from discrete points in previous studies. Our approach improves the spatial accuracy of tree level parameters and provides 3D images of crown shapes.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAmerican Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing - ASPRS Annual Conference 2007
Subtitle of host publicationIdentifying Geospatial Solutions
Pages347-358
Number of pages12
StatePublished - 2007
EventASPRS Annual Conference 2007: Identifying Geospatial Solutions - Tampa, FL, United States
Duration: 7 May 200711 May 2007

Publication series

NameAmerican Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing - ASPRS Annual Conference 2007: Identifying Geospatial Solutions
Volume1

Conference

ConferenceASPRS Annual Conference 2007: Identifying Geospatial Solutions
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityTampa, FL
Period7/05/0711/05/07

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