The potential of citizen science data to complement satellite and airborne lidar tree height measurements: lessons from The GLOBE Program

Abstract

The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program is an international science, citizen science, and education program through which volunteers in participating countries collect environmental data in support of Earth system science. Using the program’s software application, GLOBE Observer, volunteers measure tree height and optional tree circumference, which may support the interpretation of NASA and other space-based satellite data such as tree height data from the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) and Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) instrument. This paper describes tree heights data collected through the GLOBE Observer application and identifies sources of error in data collection. We also illustrate how the ground-based citizen science data collected in the GLOBE Observer application can be used in conjunction with ICESat-2 tree height observations from two locations in the United States: Grand Mesa, Colorado, and Greenbelt, Maryland. Initial analyses indicate that data location accuracy and the scientific relevance of data density should be considered in order to align GLOBE tree height data with satellite-based data collections. These recommendations are intended to inform the improved implementation of citizen science environmental data collection in scientific work and to document a use case of the GLOBE Trees data for the science research community.

Traditional and Artificial Intelligence based techniques to measure trees: an overview

“…Traditional methods of measuring tree height include field measurements and a hand-held clinometer, hypsometer, or measurement pole can be necessary (Enterkine et al, 2022). A tape measure is also fundamental in field works.…”

“…It is represented in Figure 11 one part of its functioning mode. (Enterkine et al, 2022). A conjunction of the data collected by people over the World have been used to NASA's scientists to validate satellite trees' height measurements (Blumberg, 2019).…”

“…A conjunction of the data collected by people over the World have been used to NASA's scientists to validate satellite trees' height measurements (Blumberg, 2019). The app GLOBE Observer is also adequate for other mobile devices besides smartphone (Enterkine et al, 2022) and requires a GPS connection to locate the tree (Blumberg, 2019).…”

“…The insertion of soil humidity conditions and the specie of the tree is important (Enterkine et al, 2022). It is essential to point phone's camera in such a way that it would be easy to clearly identify trees' base and top (Enterkine et al, 2022).…”

“…It is required to app utilizer hold the phone at eye level (Enterkine et al, 2022). User must tilt it between the bottom and the crown to capture the best angle 2 , measured by the phone's internal gyroscope (Enterkine et al, 2022).…”