Calibration and modeling for an individual tree LiDAR forest resource inventory in boreal Ontario

Ontario has recently acquired a new forest inventory, based on aerial photos, and for the first time, a technology called single photon Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR). This technology allows users to not only see the forest, but precisely calculate tree heights, drainage, and other things by collecting dozens of measurements per m2. A first step to utilizing this technology is being able to identify and map individual tree crowns. This research will focus on identifying individual tree crowns as a first step to developing highly accurate, affordable forest inventory. It is now possible to map forest resources more accurately than ever before, but questions about how to calibrate the data to ensure accuracy and how much we can detect remain. Forest vertical structure is one area that LiDAR may be able to quantify and classify. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Ulf Runesson

Student:

Lucas Klages

Partner:

Resolute Forest Products Canada Inc.

Discipline:

Resources and environmental management

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

Lakehead University