Estimation of regional-scale forest resources using ICESat/GLAS spaceborne lidar

Masato Hayashi, Nobuko Saigusa, Habura Borjigin, Yoshito Sawada, Yoshiki Yamagata, Takashi Hirano, Kazuhito Ichii

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Recently, the demand of forest resources monitoring technology on a large scale is growing, and spaceborne LiDAR is expected to provide a means for accurate monitoring. This study aims to clarify the potential of ICESat/GLAS spaceborne LiDAR for forest resources monitoring on a regional scale. The study areas were Hokkaido Island in Japan (cool-Temperate forest), Borneo Island (tropical forest), and Siberia (boreal forest). Firstly, we conducted field measurements in Hokkaido and Borneo, and calculated the average canopy height (Lorey’s height) and the above-ground biomass (AGB) for each GLAS-footprint. Then, we developed some models to estimate canopy height and AGB from the GLAS waveform parameters based on the field measurement data. Next, we applied the developed models to the GLAS data in Hokkaido and Borneo. The average canopy height and AGB were 17.8 m and 119.4 Mg ha-1, respectively, in Hokkaido, and 16.2 m and 190.2 Mg ha-1, respectively, in Borneo. These results suggest that the tropical forest in Borneo has a higher biomass than the cool-Temperate forest in Hokkaido. Furthermore, we applied the estimation model to the GLAS data acquired in Siberia. The average AGB was 86.2 Mg ha-1, and it has decreased especially in Southern area of Western Siberia. This study showed that spaceborne LiDAR had an ability of forest resources monitoring on a regional scale, for each of boreal, cool-Temperate, and tropical forests.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEarth Resources and Environmental Remote Sensing/GIS Applications VI
EditorsUlrich Michel, Manfred Ehlers, Karsten Schulz, Konstantinos G. Nikolakopoulos, Daniel Civco
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781628418545
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes
EventEarth Resources and Environmental Remote Sensing/GIS Applications VI - Toulouse, France
Duration: 2015 Sept 222015 Sept 24

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9644
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceEarth Resources and Environmental Remote Sensing/GIS Applications VI
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityToulouse
Period15/9/2215/9/24

Keywords

  • aboveground biomass
  • Borneo
  • canopy height
  • forest resources
  • Hokkaido
  • ICESat/GLAS
  • spaceborne LiDAR

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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