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(3D点云)的大型数据集。除了其他用途外，森林业正在使用激光雷达创建详细的地形模型，用于道路建设和制定森林清单。虽然许多林业应用的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片区域的调查，但地面系统也对更详细的小区域研究感兴趣。陆基系统还具有一个优势，即允许以比飞机测量更低的成本对小区域进行更多的重复测量。该项目建议研究地基激光雷达应用，使林业中小企业能够以成本效益高的方式生产重要的新增值信息产品。 卡森综合林业顾问公司最近购买了一套地面激光雷达系统(Paracosm PX-80)。塞尔柯克学院的地理空间研究中心(SGRC)一直在开发一个软件管道，以处理我们的陆基激光雷达系统GeoSLAM Zeb Horizon收集的数据。在这个项目中，卡森公司将向SGRC提供其激光雷达系统收集的数据。然后，我们将提供一系列产品，包括数字高程模型(DEM)、数字地表模型(DSM)和森林指标，包括树冠高度模型(CHM)、树冠分割、树木数量、树木胸径(DBH)、原木数量和树木体积。该项目将使用灵活的项目管理方法，反复改进卡森集成公司在艾伯塔省运营的各种森林类型的数据产品。 塞尔柯克学院还将主要负责设计一套专门针对激光雷达设备和相关林业指标的开源软件工具，这些工具可用于建设处理新林业产品的激光雷达数据的能力，提高激光雷达处理生产率，并为卡森的客户提供有用的新信息产品。

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.