Vegetation class dependent errors in lidar ground elevation and canopy height estimates in a boreal wetland environment

An airborne scanning light detection and ranging (lidar) survey using a discrete pulse return airborne laser terrain mapper (ALTM) was conducted over the Utikuma boreal wetland area of northern Alberta in August 2002. These data were analysed to quantify vegetation class dependent errors in lidar ground surface elevation and vegetation canopy surface height. The sensitivity of lidar-derived land-cover frictional parameters to these height errors was also investigated. Aquatic vegetation was associated with the largest error in lidar ground surface definition (+0.15 m, SD = 0.22, probability of no difference in height P < 0.01), likely a result of saturated ground conditions. The largest absolute errors in lidar canopy surface height were associated with tall vegetation classes; however, the largest relative errors were associated with low shrub (63%, –0.52 m, P < 0.01) and aquatic vegetation (54%, –0.24 m, P < 0.01) classes. The openness and orientation of vegetation foliage (i.e., minimal projection of horizontal area) were thought to enhance laser pulse canopy surface penetration in these two classes. Raster canopy height models (CHMs) underestimated field heights by between 3% (aspens and black spruce) and 64% (aquatic vegetation). Lidar canopy surface height errors led to hydraulic Darcy–Weisbach friction factor underestimates of 10%–49% for short (<2 m) vegetation classes and overestimates of 12%–41% for taller vegetation classes.

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