Influence of Vegetation Structure on Lidar-derived Canopy Height and Fractional Cover in Forested Riparian Buffers During Leaf-Off and Leaf-On Conditions

Estimates of canopy height (H) and fractional canopy cover (FC) derived from lidar data collected during leaf-on and leaf-off conditions are compared with field measurements from 80 forested riparian buffer plots. The purpose is to determine if existing lidar data flown in leaf-off conditions for applications such as terrain mapping can effectively estimate forested riparian buffer H and FC within a range of riparian vegetation types. Results illustrate that: 1) leaf-off and leaf-on lidar percentile estimates are similar to measured heights in all plots except those dominated by deciduous compound-leaved trees where lidar underestimates H during leaf off periods; 2) canopy height models (CHMs) underestimate H by a larger margin compared to percentile methods and are influenced by vegetation type (conifer needle, deciduous simple leaf or deciduous compound leaf) and canopy height variability, 3) lidar estimates of FC are within 10% of plot measurements during leaf-on periods, but are underestimated during leaf-off periods except in mixed and conifer plots; and 4) depth of laser pulse penetration lower in the canopy is more variable compared to top of the canopy penetration which may influence within canopy vegetation structure estimates. This study demonstrates that leaf-off lidar data can be used to estimate forested riparian buffer canopy height within diverse vegetation conditions and fractional canopy cover within mixed and conifer forests when leaf-on lidar data are not available.

[1]  A. Hovi,et al.  MAPPING UNDERSTORY TREES USING AIRBORNE DISCRETE-RETURN LIDAR DATA , 2012 .

[2]  W. Edwards,et al.  Not so simple after all: searching for ecological advantages of compound leaves , 2011 .

[3]  Stuart R. Phinn,et al.  Mapping of riparian zone attributes using discrete return LiDAR, QuickBird and SPOT-5 imagery: Assessing accuracy and costs , 2010 .

[4]  William F. Laurance,et al.  Are compound leaves an adaptation to seasonal drought or to rapid growth? Evidence from the Amazon rain forest , 2010 .

[5]  Erik Næsset,et al.  Effects of different sensors and leaf-on and leaf-off canopy conditions on echo distributions and individual tree properties derived from airborne laser scanning , 2010 .

[6]  T. Gobakken,et al.  Light detection and ranging-based measures of mixed hardwood forest structure. , 2010 .

[7]  P. Vidon.  Riparian zone management and environmental quality: a multi‐contaminant challenge , 2010 .

[8]  A. Sutton,et al.  Effects of Restored Stream Buffers on Water Quality in Non-tidal Streams in the Choptank River Basin , 2010 .

[9]  Terje Gobakken,et al.  Reliability of LiDAR derived predictors of forest inventory attributes: A case study with Norway spruce , 2010 .

[10]  D. Dewalle,et al.  Modeling Stream Shade: Riparian Buffer Height and Density as Important as Buffer Width 1 , 2010 .

[11]  G. Speiran.  Effects of Groundwater‐Flow Paths On Nitrate Concentrations Across Two Riparian Forest Corridors 1 , 2010 .

[12]  S. Stehman,et al.  Monitoring Regional Riparian Forest Cover Change Using Stratified Sampling and Multiresolution Imagery 1 , 2010 .

[13]  S. Phinn,et al.  Integration of LiDAR and QuickBird imagery for mapping riparian biophysical parameters and land cover types in Australian tropical savannas , 2010 .

[14]  Nathaniel E Seavy,et al.  Riparian bird response to vegetation structure: a multiscale analysis using LiDAR measurements of canopy height. , 2009, Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America.

[15]  A. Hudak,et al.  A cross-comparison of field, spectral, and lidar estimates of forest canopy cover , 2009 .

[16]  H. Andersen,et al.  Tree species differentiation using intensity data derived from leaf-on and leaf-off airborne laser scanner data , 2009 .

[17]  E. Næsset,et al.  Classifying species of individual trees by intensity and structure features derived from airborne laser scanner data , 2009 .

[18]  Richard K. Broughton,et al.  Mapping the understorey of deciduous woodland from leaf-on and leaf-off airborne LiDAR data: A case study in lowland Britain , 2009 .

[19]  K. Jones,et al.  Quantifying structural physical habitat attributes using LIDAR and hyperspectral imagery , 2009, Environmental monitoring and assessment.

[20]  C. Hopkinson,et al.  Testing LiDAR models of fractional cover across multiple forest ecozones , 2009 .

[21]  E. Næsset.  Effects of different sensors, flying altitudes, and pulse repetition frequencies on forest canopy metrics and biophysical stand properties derived from small-footprint airborne laser data , 2009 .

[22]  Laura Chasmer,et al.  A lidar-based hierarchical approach for assessing MODIS fPAR , 2008 .

[23]  L. Vierling,et al.  Lidar: shedding new light on habitat characterization and modeling , 2008 .

[24]  Klaus I. Itten,et al.  Assessment of the influence of flying altitude and scan angle on biophysical vegetation products derived from airborne laser scanning , 2008 .

[25]  Fernando Valladares,et al.  The Architecture of Plant Crowns , 2007 .

[26]  F. Pugnaire,et al.  Functional Plant Ecology , 2007 .

[27]  C. Hopkinson.  The influence of flying altitude, beam divergence, and pulse repetition frequency on laser pulse return intensity and canopy frequency distribution , 2007 .

[28]  Oliver Sonnentag,et al.  Leaf area index measurements at Fluxnet-Canada forest sites , 2006 .

[29]  K. Itten,et al.  Estimation of LAI and fractional cover from small footprint airborne laser scanning data based on gap fraction , 2006 .

[30]  Nicholas C. Coops,et al.  Assessment of forest structure with airborne LiDAR and the effects of platform altitude , 2006 .

[31]  S. Goetz.  ERRATUM.: "Remote Sensing of Riparian Buffers: Past Progress and Future Prospects" , 2006 .

[32]  Scott J. Goetz,et al.  REMOTE SENSING OF RIPARIAN BUFFERS: PAST PROGRESS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS 1 , 2006 .

[33]  Laura Chasmer,et al.  Towards a universal lidar canopy height indicator , 2006 .

[34]  Erik Næsset,et al.  Assessing sensor effects and effects of leaf-off and leaf-on canopy conditions on biophysical stand properties derived from small-footprint airborne laser data , 2005 .

[35]  E. Anderson,et al.  LIDAR density and linear interpolator effects on elevation estimates , 2005 .

[36]  Heiko Balzter,et al.  Modelling relationships between birds and vegetation structure using airborne LiDAR data: a review with case studies from agricultural and woodland environments , 2005 .

[37]  Scott J. Goetz,et al.  STREAM HEALTH RANKINGS PREDICTED BY SATELLITE DERIVED LAND COVER METRICS 1 , 2005 .

[38]  Sylvain G. Leblanc,et al.  Methodology comparison for canopy structure parameters extraction from digital hemispherical photography in boreal forests , 2005 .

[39]  Laura Chasmer,et al.  Vegetation class dependent errors in lidar ground elevation and canopy height estimates in a boreal wetland environment , 2005 .

[40]  S. Broadmeadow,et al.  The effects of riparian forest management on the freshwater environment: a literature review of best management practice , 2004 .

[41]  T. Hiura,et al.  Exploring the Relationships Among Canopy Structure, Stand Productivity, and Biodiversity of Temperate Forest Ecosystems , 2004, Forest Science.

[42]  Erik Næsset,et al.  Effects of different flying altitudes on biophysical stand properties estimated from canopy height and density measured with a small-footprint airborne scanning laser , 2004 .

[43]  Scott J. Goetz,et al.  Comparison and sensitivity analysis of instruments and radiometric methods for LAI estimation: assessments from a boreal forest site , 2004 .

[44]  P. D. Lattin,et al.  INFLUENCE OF REMOTE SENSING IMAGERY SOURCE ON QUANTIFICATION OF RIPARIAN LAND COVER/LAND USE 1 , 2004 .

[45]  R. Hill,et al.  Quantifying canopy height underestimation by laser pulse penetration in small-footprint airborne laser scanning data , 2003 .

[46]  John A. Young,et al.  Influences of upland and riparian land use patterns on stream biotic integrity , 2003, Landscape Ecology.

[47]  Tomas Brandtberg.  Detection and analysis of individual leaf-off tree crowns in small footprint, high sampling density lidar data from the eastern deciduous forest in North America , 2003 .

[48]  E. Næsset.  Predicting forest stand characteristics with airborne scanning laser using a practical two-stage procedure and field data , 2002 .

[49]  Daniel P. Loucks,et al.  Aquatic ecosystem protection and restoration: advances in methods for assessment and evaluation , 2000 .

[50]  D. L. Thomas,et al.  Watershed-Scale Water Quality Impacts of Riparian Forest Management , 1999 .

[51]  A. Sumida,et al.  Crown Spread Patterns for Five Deciduous Broad-leaved Woody Species: Ecological Significance of the Retention Patterns of Larger Branches , 1997 .

[52]  J. Newbold,et al.  Water Quality Functions of Riparian Forest Buffers in Chesapeake Bay Watersheds , 1997, Environmental management.

[53]  R. Naiman,et al.  The Ecology of Interfaces: Riparian Zones , 1997 .

[54]  E. Næsset.  Estimating timber volume of forest stands using airborne laser scanner data , 1997 .

[55]  M. Nilsson.  Estimation of tree heights and stand volume using an airborne lidar system , 1996 .

[56]  R. Naiman,et al.  The Role of Riparian Corridors in Maintaining Regional Biodiversity. , 1993, Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America.

[57]  Robert C. Petersen,et al.  The RCE: a Riparian, Channel, and Environmental Inventory for small streams in the agricultural landscape , 1992 .

[58]  Susan L. Ustin,et al.  Canopy architecture of a walnut orchard , 1991, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote. Sens..

[59]  K. Torlegård.  The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing , 1987 .

[60]  J. Hyyppä,et al.  Tree species classification using airborne LiDAR - effects of stand and tree parameters, downsizing of training set, intensity normalization, and sensor type , 2010 .

[61]  Terje Gobakken,et al.  Sampling and Mapping Forest Volume and Biomass Using Airborne LIDARs , 2009 .

[62]  R. Brooks,et al.  A Stream–Wetland–Riparian (SWR) index for assessing condition of aquatic ecosystems in small watersheds along the Atlantic slope of the eastern U.S. , 2009, Environmental monitoring and assessment.

[63]  C. Moorman,et al.  Effect of Vegetation Management on Bird Habitat in Riparian Buffer Zones , 2008 .

[64]  Tomas Brandtberg.  Classifying individual tree species under leaf-off and leaf-on conditions using airborne lidar , 2007 .

[65]  Fernando Valladares,et al.  4 The Architecture of PlantCrowns : From Design Rules to Light Capture and Performance , 2007 .

[66]  B. Koetz,et al.  THE POTENTIAL OF DISCRETE RETURN, SMALL FOOTPRINT AIRBORNE LASER SCANNING DATA FOR VEGETATION DENSITY ESTIMATION , 2005 .

[67]  Ü. Niinemets.  Are compound-leaved woody species inherently shade-intolerant? An analysis of species ecological requirements and foliar support costs , 2004, Plant Ecology.

[68]  Kiyun Yu,et al.  Assessing the Possibility of Landcover Classification Using Lidar Intensity Data , 2002 .

[69]  E. Næsset,et al.  Estimating tree height and tree crown properties using airborne scanning laser in a boreal nature reserve , 2002 .

[70]  P. J. Wigington,et al.  Development of Landscape Metrics for Characterizing Riparian-Stream Networks , 1999 .