Estimation of biophysical characteristics for highly variable mixed-conifer stands using small-footprint lidar

Although lidar data are widely available from commercial contractors, operational use in North America is still limited by both cost and the uncertainty of large-scale application and associated model accuracy issues. We analyzed whether small-footprint lidar data obtained from five noncontiguous geographic areas with varying species and structural composition, silvicultural practices, and topography could be used in a single regression model to produce accurate estimates of commonly obtained forest inventory attributes on the Nez Perce Reservation in northern Idaho, USA. Lidar-derived height metrics were used as predictor variables in a best-subset multiple linear regression procedure to determine whether a suite of stand inventory variables could be accurately estimated. Empirical relationships between lidar-derived height metrics and field-measured dependent variables were developed with training data and acceptable models validated with an independent subset. Models were then fit with all data, result...

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