Lidar sensing gives researchers clearer view of forests

For years, aerial photography has aided researchers in surveying the density of forests. However, a recent Texas AgriLife Research study shows that infrared detection allows for a more comprehensive measurement for trees and other plant life. Lidar technology, which can be applied both on the ground, air and space, uses intensive pulses of light to capture information and give researchers a more comprehensive look at a surveyed area. “Lidar creates the premise for 3-D modeling of vegetation structure, providing a three-dimensional look versus regular aerial photos that provide only a two-dimensional view,” said Dr. Sorin Popescu, AgriLife Research scientist, in the Spatial Sciences in Laboratory at Texas A&M University . “It gives us a more clear picture of what’s there.” Many of the conference presenters touted the merits of lidar technology, saying lidar applications, if adopted broadly by foresters, would cut down on the hundreds of hours of fieldwork required for surveying forests. According to Popescu, field collection yields only an estimate of tree and plant population and gives only a snapshot view of larger areas. The infrared laser technology can be used on the ground, air and in space. It can be applied in various aspects of forestry research, including carbon sequestration analysis and forest fire risk prediction. A separate project funded through the AgriLife Research Bioenergy Initiative is using ground-based lidar and remote-sensing imagery for assessing brushland biomass in Vernon in the Rolling Plains region...read more