Volumetric lidar return patterns from an old-growth tropical rainforest canopy

    Authors

    J. F. Weishampel; J. B. Blair; R. G. Knox; R. Dubayah;D. B. Clark

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Int. J. Remote Sens.

    Keywords

    LACUNARITY ANALYSIS; FORESTS; LIGHT; Remote Sensing; Imaging Science & Photographic Technology

    Abstract

    Rainforests represent the epitome of structural complexity in terrestrial ecosystems. However, measures of three-dimensional canopy structure are limited to a few areas typically < 1 ha with construction crane or walkway/platform access,An innovative laser profiling system, the Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS), was used to map canopy structure (i.e. based on height and vertical distribution of laser returns) of a tropical rainforest in Costa Rica. Within a approximate to 1 km(2) area of mature rainforest, canopy top height ranged from 8.4 to 51.6 m based on the altimeter measures. The laser return density was most concentrated in the horizontal layer located 20-30 m above the ground. Spatial patterns of the return were found to be isotropic based on north-south versus east-west vertical return profiles and exhibited properties of self-similarity.

    Journal Title

    International Journal of Remote Sensing

    Volume

    21

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2000

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    409

    Last Page

    415

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000084681200015

    ISSN

    0143-1161

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