Ground Based LiDAR Forest Metrics

激光雷达（光距离和测距）是一种主动遥感技术，它使用激光来创建x，y，z点的大型数据集（3D点云）。除其他用途外，森林工业正在采用激光雷达为道路建设和开发森林清单创建详细的地形模型。虽然林业应用的许多激光雷达数据是从空中收集的，主要是通过固定翼飞机对大面积进行调查，但地面系统也可用于对较小区域进行更详细的研究。与飞机测量相比，地面测量系统的优势还在于能够以更低的成本对小区域进行更多的重复测量。该项目建议研究地面激光雷达应用，使林业中小企业能够经济有效地生产重要的新增值信息产品。

LiDAR (light distance and ranging) is an active remote sensing technology that uses lasers to create large datasets of x,y,z points (3D point clouds). LiDAR is being adopted by the forest industry to create detailed terrain models for road building and to develop forest inventories, among other uses. While much LiDAR data for forestry applications is collected from the air, primarily by fixed-wing airplane surveys of large areas, ground-based systems are also of interest for more detailed studies of smaller areas. Ground-based systems also have the advantage of allowing for more repeat measurements of small areas at lower cost than airplane surveys. This project proposes to investigate ground-based LiDAR applications that can enable a forestry SME to cost-effectively produce important new value-added information products. Carson Integrated forestry consultants has recently purchased a ground-based lidar system (Paracosm PX-80). Selkirk College's Geospatial Research Centre (SGRC) has been developing a software pipeline to process data collected with our ground-based lidar system, the GeoSlam Zeb Horizon. In this project, Carson will provide the SGRC with data collected with its lidar system. We will then provide a series of products including a digital elevation model (DEM), digital surface model (DSM), and forest metrics including a canopy height model (CHM), canopy segmentation, tree count, tree diameter at breast height (DBH), log count and tree volume. This project will use an agile project management method to iteratively refine the data products for the range of forest types that Carson Integrated operates within in Alberta. Selkirk College will also be primarily responsible for designing a set of open-source software tools specific to the lidar device and relevant forestry metrics that can be used to build capacity to process LiDAR data for new forestry products, improve LiDAR processing productivity and provide Carson's clients with useful new information products.