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Detecting pruning of individual stems using Airborne Laser Scanning data captured from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 02:01 authored by Luke WallaceLuke Wallace, Christopher WatsonChristopher Watson, Arko LucieerArko Lucieer
Modern forest management involves implementing optimal pruning regimes. These regimes aim to achieve the highest quality timber in the shortest possible rotation period. Although a valuable addition to forest management activities, tracking the application of these treatments in the field to ensure best practice management is not economically viable. This paper describes the use of Airborne Laser Scanner (ALS) data to track the rate of pruning in a Eucalyptus globulus stand. Data is obtained from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and we describe automated processing routines that provide a cost-effective alternative to field sampling. We manually prune a 500 m2 plot to 2.5 m above the ground at rates of between 160 and 660 stems/ha. Utilising the high density ALS data, we first derived crown base height (CBH) with an RMSE of 0.60 m at each stage of pruning. Variability in the measurement of CBH resulted in both false positive (mean rate of 11%) and false negative detection (3.5%), however, detected rates of pruning of between 96% and 125% of the actual rate of pruning were achieved. The successful automated detection of pruning within this study highlights the suitability of UAV laser scanning as a cost-effective tool for monitoring forest management activities.

Funding

Winifred Violet Scott Charitable Trust

History

Publication title

International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation

Volume

30

Pagination

76-85

ISSN

0303-2434

Department/School

School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences

Publisher

Elsevier BV

Place of publication

Netherlands

Rights statement

Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Assessment and management of freshwater ecosystems

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    University Of Tasmania

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