A new approach to assessing tree stem quality characteristics using terrestrial laser scans

Kretschmer, Ursula; Kirchner, Nadeschda; Morhart, Christopher; Spiecker, Heinrich

doi:10.14214/sf.1071

Cited by 30 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Kretschmer et al [33] detected scars in the stem surface utilized for stem quality prediction. Stem quality was also automatically classified in Kankare et al [34].…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

SimpleTree —An Efficient Open Source Tool to Build Tree Models from TLS Clouds

Hackenberg

Spiecker

Calders

et al. 2015

Forests

Self Cite

281

260

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An open source tool named SimpleTree, capable of modelling highly accurate cylindrical tree models from terrestrial laser scan point clouds, is presented and evaluated. All important functionalities, accessible in the software via buttons and dialogues, are described including the explanation of all necessary input parameters. The method is validated utilizing 101 point clouds of six different tree species, in the main evergreen and coniferous trees. All scanned trees have been destructively harvested to get accurate estimates of above ground biomass with which we assess the accuracy of the SimpleTree-reconstructed cylinder models. The trees were grouped into four data sets and for each one a Concordance Correlation Coefficient of at least 0. 92 (0.92, 0.97, 0.92, 0.94) and an total relative error at most ∼ 8 % (2.42%, 3.59%, -4.59%, 8.27%) was achieved in the comparison of the model results to the ground truth data. A global statistical improvement of derived cylinder radii is presented as well as an efficient optimization approach to Forests 2015, 6 4246 automatically improve user given input parameters. An additional check of the SimpleTree results is presented via comparison to the results of trees reconstructed using an alternative, published method.

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“…Kretschmer et al [33] detected scars in the stem surface utilized for stem quality prediction. Stem quality was also automatically classified in Kankare et al [34].…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

SimpleTree —An Efficient Open Source Tool to Build Tree Models from TLS Clouds

Hackenberg

Spiecker

Calders

et al. 2015

Forests

Self Cite

281

260

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“…TLS offers more possibilities for measuring quality attributes directly from single trees but with smaller spatial coverage. TLS has been successfully used to measure branch size distribution (Raumonen et al 2013), stem form (taper, sweep and lean) Thies et al 2004) and bark characteristics (see Kretschmer et al, 2013). Stängle et al (2014) also demonstrated that external bark quality attributes can be linked with the internal quality of logs, as determined with strong correlation by X-ray computer tomography.…”

Section: Logging Recoveries and Timber Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…DBH, height, stem curve and quality attributes, such as the height of the lowest branch (see e.g. Kretschmer et al 2013;Liang and Hyyppä 2013;Maas et al 2008;Pfeifer and Winterhalder 2004;Raumonen et al 2013). Tree volume can be calculated directly based on the stem curve by calculating the volume of 3D cylinders fitted to the stem points.…”

Section: Tree Species Dbh Height and Stem Curvementioning

confidence: 99%

The prediction of single-tree biomass, logging recoveries and quality attributes with laser scanning techniques

Kankare¹

2015

Diss. For.

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To be presented with the permission of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, for public criticism in the Walter Auditorium of the EE-building, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, Helsinki on June 5 th , 2015 at 12 o'clock noon. ABSTRACTThe precise knowledge of forest structural attributes, such as biomass, logging recoveries and quality of the available timber, play an essential role in decision-making, forest management procedure planning and in wood supply chain optimization. Remote sensing-aided mapping applications are used intensively to acquire required forest resource information. Laser scanning (LS) is one of the most promising remote sensing techniques, which can be used to estimate forest attributes at all levels, from single trees to global applications. The main objectives of the present thesis were to develop LS-based methodologies for mapping and measuring single trees. More specifically, new high-density LS-based models and methodologies were developed for the prediction of aboveground biomass (AGB), logging recovery, stem curve and external tree quality estimation. Multisource remote sensing methodologies were additionally introduced for the detailed next generation forest-inventory process. Substudies I and II concentrated on developing LS-based biomass models. Total AGB was estimated with the relative root mean squared errors (RMSE%) of 12.9% and 11.9% for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.), respectively using terrestrial LS (TLS) -derived predictors in multiple regression modelling. TLS-based AGB models significantly improved the estimation accuracy of AGB components compared to state-of-the-art allometric biomass models. Airborne LS (ALS) resulted in slightly higher RMSE% values of 26.3% and 36.8% for Scots pine and Norway spruce compared to results obtained with TLS. The goal of substudies III and IV was to predict timber assortment and tree quality information using high-density LS data. Sawlog volumes were estimated with RMSE% of 17.5% and 16.8% with TLS and a combination of TLS and ALS, respectively. Tree quality is an important factor for accurate and successful timber assortment estimation. The use of TLS data showed high potential for tree quality assessment. Results in IV showed that trees could be successfully classified in different quality classes based on TLS-measured attributes with accuracies between 76.4% and 83.6% depending on the amount of quality classes. Substudies V and VI presented new automatic processing tools for TLS data and a multisource approach for the more detailed prediction of diameter distribution. Automatic processing of TLS data was demonstrated to be effective and accurate and could be utilized to make future TLS measurements more efficient. Accuracies of ~1 cm were achieved using the automatic stem curve procedure. The multisource single-tree inventory approach combined accurate treemaps produced automatically from the TLS data, and ALS individual tree detection technique for predicting forest preh...

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“…For example, Moorthy et al (2011), Bayer et al (2013) and Metz et al (2013) have evaluated the crown properties of selected species, the latter applying this technique for assessing the aboveground intra-and inter-specific competition and its effects on tree growth. Thies et al (2004) and Liang et al (2014) assessed stem taper, while Kretschmer et al (2013) applied the TLS methodology for the detection of branch scars as an indication of internal wood quality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Terrestrial laser scanning as a tool for assessing tree growth

Sheppard¹,

Morhart²,

Hackenberg³

et al. 2017

iForest

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(1) Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technology is a powerful tool for assessing tree growth based on time series analysis, as it allows a level of scrutiny not achievable using established destructive techniques. We applied TLS technology to 21 wild cherry trees grown in a research plot near Breisach (southern Germany) in order to build quantitative structure models (QSMs) for each tree. Scans were carried out over three subsequent years (2012-2014), so that three QSMs per each tree were constructed. Using the above approach, we were able to assess the annual growth of the individual wild cherry trees in terms of diameter and height, stem and branch volume, and the merchantable timber fraction. In addition, the growth of single branches of sample trees was detected and quantified. The availability of QSMs based on TLS-derived data allowed the accurate determination of crown length and width, as well as the volume reduction as the result of the tree pruning applied after the first scan (2012). The aboveground biomass (AGB) was assessed for each tree based on the QSM-derived volume and published wood density values for wild cherry, and then compared with AGB values estimated with standard allometric methods, obtaining a very high correlation (r 2 adj = 0.941). We concluded that the proposed approach is an effective non-destructive technique to accurately assess the increase of tree biomass, and discuss its future application in the forestry sector.

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A new approach to assessing tree stem quality characteristics using terrestrial laser scans

Cited by 30 publications

References 6 publications

SimpleTree —An Efficient Open Source Tool to Build Tree Models from TLS Clouds

SimpleTree —An Efficient Open Source Tool to Build Tree Models from TLS Clouds

The prediction of single-tree biomass, logging recoveries and quality attributes with laser scanning techniques

Terrestrial laser scanning as a tool for assessing tree growth

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