Alternatives to LiDAR-derived canopy height models for softwood plantations: a review and example using photogrammetry

ABSTRACT

Airborne LiDAR data is now commonly acquired by the Australian plantation sector in order to generate accurate digital terrain models and canopy height models at high spatial resolution for resource assessment estimates. However, these airborne surveys are relatively expensive and there is a desire to identify more affordable options for collecting or updating this information. This review presents alternative approaches to deriving canopy height models, including the use of stereo optical imagery from satellites, manned and unmanned airborne platforms, and the use of synthetic aperture radar. In addition, we illustrate the potential of airborne photogrammetry with multi-view dense point matching to produce an accurate, hybrid photo-LiDAR canopy height model at high spatial resolution along a transect covering stands of several softwood tree species.

KEYWORDS:

• Plantation canopy height mapping
• stereo optical imagery
• photogrammetry
• SfM-MVS
• UAS
• SAR interferometry
• radargrammetry

Acknowledgements

The photographic imagery was acquired by Erron Gardner (Aerial Acquisitions PL, Penshurst, NSW) and the SfM-MVS processing was done by Dale Costigan (Hayson GeoSpatial PL, Lakes Entrance, Victoria). The authors acknowledge Hanieh Saremi (School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England) for providing the LiDAR CHM. We thank Arko Lucieer (School of Land and Food, University of Tasmania) for his constructive comments on an early version of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Forest & Wood Products Australia [PNC326-1314].