RAPID: Acquisition of high resolution LiDAR for Barro Colorado Nature Monument, Panama

光探测和测距（LiDAR）是一种有效、快速的遥感技术，用于描述森林冠层结构、单株树木的高度以及森林干扰的大小和位置。这些数据还可以提供景观尺度上整个森林的固定碳储存的估计数。当与激光雷达结合使用时，测量树冠反射光波长的高光谱图像可以识别单个森林物种。目前，部署激光雷达和高光谱图像的成本限制了其应用主要是温带森林。巴拿马的巴罗科罗拉多自然纪念碑是世界上研究得最好的热带森林之一，现在有机会以大大降低的费用获得这种图像，激光雷达和高光谱图像为综合热带森林结构和生物多样性的数据提供了一种非常有力的工具。这些数据将为在BCNM进行的各种项目提供宝贵的资源，并将刺激新的研究，旨在将现有的地面研究转化为与森林管理和养护有关的景观尺度。BCNM现有的丰富数据允许对LiDAR提供大规模森林碳估计的潜力进行严格评估，这将在通过减少毁林和退化排放来实施二氧化碳（CO2）排放控制方面发挥关键作用。数据将由史密森尼环境科学计划维护，并在收购一年后在线提供并作为生态档案出版物。这些数据将有助于许多合作机构的学生的培训和研究。

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is an effective, rapid, remote-sensing technology for describing the structure of forest canopies, height of individual trees, and the size and location of forest disturbances. These data can also provide estimates of standing carbon stocks of entire forests at landscape scales. When used in conjunction with LiDAR, hyperspectral imagery, which measures the wavelength of light reflected from a canopy, can provide identification of individual forest species. At present, the cost of deploying LiDAR and hyperspectral imagery has limited its application mostly to temperate forests. A time-limited opportunity has arisen to acquire this imagery at a greatly reduced cost for Barro Colorado Nature Monument (BCNM), Panama, one of the best-studied tropical forests in the world.LiDAR and hyperspectral imagery provide an exceptionally powerful tool for integrating data on the structure and biodiversity of tropical forests. These data will provide a valuable resource for diverse projects conducted at BCNM, and will stimulate new research aimed at translating existing ground-based research up to landscape scales relevant to forest management and conservation. The wealth of existing data at BCNM allow for a rigorous evaluation of LiDAR's potential to provide large-scale forest carbon estimates, which will play a key role in implementation of proposed carbon dioxide (CO2) emission control through Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation. Data will be maintained by Smithsonian's Environmental Science Program and made available online and as an Ecological Archives publication one year after acquisition. These data will contribute to the training and research of students at numerous collaborating institutions.