Canopy base height (CBH) is a key parameter used in forest-fire modeling, particularly crown fires. However, estimating CBH is a challenging task, because normally, it is difficult to measure it in the field. This has led to the use of simple estimators (e.g., the average of individual trees in a plot) for modeling CBH. In this paper, we propose a method for estimating CBH from airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. We also compare the performance of several estimators (Lorey's mean, the arithmetic mean and the 40th and 50th percentiles) used to estimate CBH at the plot level. The method we propose uses a moving voxel to estimate the height of the gaps (in the LiDAR point cloud) below tree crowns and uses this information for modeling CBH. The advantage of this approach is that it is more tolerant to variations in LiDAR data (e.g., due to season) and tree species, because it works directly with the height information in the data. Our approach gave better results when compared to standard percentile-based LiDAR metrics commonly used in modeling CBH. Using Lorey's mean, the arithmetic mean and the 40th and 50th percentiles as CBH estimators at the plot level, the highest and lowest values for root mean square error (RMSE) and root mean square error for cross-validation (RMSE cv ) and R

Customer-oriented production as a sawmill strategy requires up-to-date information on the available raw material resources. Bucking is a process in which the tree stem is divided into products based on the roundwood user’s needs regarding products and their quality and dimensions. Optimization methods are employed in bucking to recover the highest value of the stem for a given product price matrix and requested length–diameter distribution. A method is presented here for assessing the value of harvestable timber stands based on their product yield. Airborne laser scanning, multispectral imagery, and field plots were used to produce timber statistics for a grid covering the target area. The statistics for the plots were generated from this grid. The value of the estimated tree list was assessed using a bucking-to-value simulator together with a stem quality database. Different product yield simulations in terms of volumes, timber assortment recoveries, wood paying capabilities (WPC) and value estimations based on the presented method, and extensive field measurements were compared. As a conclusion, this method can estimate WPC for pulpwood and sawlogs with root mean squared errors of 32.7% and 38.5%, respectively, relative to extensive field measurements.

The methodology presented here can assist in making timber markets more efficient when assessing the value of harvestable timber stands and the amounts of timber assortments during the planning of harvesting operations. Information on wood quality and timber assortments is essential for wood valuation and procurement planning as varying wood dimensions and qualities may be utilized and refined in different places, including sawmills, plywood mills, pulp mills, heating plants or combined heat and power plants. We investigate here alternative approaches for generating detailed timber assortments for Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and birch (Betula spp.) from airborne laser scanning (ALS) data, aerial images, harvester data and field data. For this purpose, we used 665 circular plots, and logging recovery information recorded from 249 clear-cut stands using cut-to-length harvesters. We estimated timber assortment volumes, economic values and wood paying capabilities (WPC) for each stand in different bucking scenarios, and used the resulting timber assortment estimates to assess logging recoveries. The bucking scenarios were (1) bucking-to-value using maximum sawlog and pulpwood volumes excluding quality (theoretical maximum), and (2) bucking-to-value using sawlog lengths at 30 cm intervals for Norway spruce and Scots pine and veneer logs of lengths 4.7 m, 5.0 m, 6.0 m and 6.7 m for birch, either excluding quality (the usual business practice) or including quality (a novel business practice). The results showed that our procedure can assist in locating stands that are likely to be more valuable and have the desired timber assortment distributions. We conclude that the method can estimate WPC with root mean square errors of 28.7%, 66.0% and 45.7% in Norway spruce, Scots pine and birch, respectively, for sawlogs and 19.3%, 63.7% and 29.5% for pulpwood.

The methodology presented here can assist in evaluating the need for pre-harvest clearing. In the long term, similar approaches may help with managing electronic standing sales and enhance the operational environment of roundwood e-marketplaces. In cut-to-length harvesting, pre-harvest clearing is needed when the understory vegetation hinders the visibility of the stems to be harvested. It can facilitate the work of the harvester operators and thereby enhance the productivity and quality of the harvesting operation. Information about where pre-harvest clearing is required is often not available, however, or else it has to be collected during time-consuming field visits. We report here on the development and evaluation of airborne laser scanning (ALS)-based models for estimating the need for pre-harvest clearing. The reference data consisted of 99 circular field sample plots that were photographed and in which stems with diameters at breast height from one to seven centimeters were measured. An online e-questionnaire survey responded to by 66 forest professionals classified the sample plots into five categories ranging from no need for pre-harvest clearing to compulsory pre-harvest clearing. A linear discriminant analysis was used to estimate the need for pre-harvest clearing with an accuracy of 63.6%, whereas a linear model-based method that predicted the understory stem density assessed the need with an accuracy of 64.6%. Use of this method could deliver information about the understory vegetation, offer guidelines for clearing the understory, and reduce the number of field visits before harvesting, thus reducing costs.