Title
Terrestrial laser scanning for vegetation sampling.
Abstract
We developed new vegetation indices utilizing terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to quantify the three-dimensional spatial configuration of plant communities. These indices leverage the novelty of TLS data and rely on the spatially biased arrangement of a TLS point cloud. We calculated these indices from TLS data acquired within an existing long term manipulation of forest structure in Central Oregon, USA, and used these data to test for differences in vegetation structure. Results provided quantitative evidence of a significant difference in vegetation density due to thinning and burning, and a marginally significant difference in vegetation patchiness due to grazing. A comparison to traditional field sampling highlighted the novelty of the TLS based method. By creating a linkage between traditional field sampling and landscape ecology, these indices enable field investigations of fine-scale spatial patterns. Applications include experimental assessment, long-term monitoring, and habitat characterization.
Year
DOI
Venue
2014
10.3390/s141120304
SENSORS
Keywords
Field
DocType
density,patchiness,forest,remote sensing,grazing,fire
Plant community,Vegetation,Landscape ecology,Thinning,Remote sensing,Sampling (statistics),Engineering,Point cloud,Spatial ecology,Environmental monitoring
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
14
11
1424-8220
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
3
0.46
4
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Jeffrey J Richardson130.80
L Monika Moskal214020.24
Bakker, J.-D.340.84