Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1055
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1055
14 Oct 2022
 | 14 Oct 2022

Quantifying vegetation indices using TLS: methodological complexities and ecological insights from a Mediterranean forest

WIlliam Rupert Moore Flynn, Harry Jon Foord Owen, Stuart William David Grieve, and Emily Rebecca Lines

Abstract. Accurate measurement of vegetation density metrics including plant, wood and leaf area indices (PAI, WAI and LAI) is key to monitoring and modelling carbon storage and uptake in forests. Traditional passive sensor approaches, such as Digital Hemispherical Photography (DHP), cannot separate leaf and wood material, nor individual trees, and require many assumptions in processing. Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) data offer new opportunities to improve understanding of tree and canopy structure. Multiple methods have been developed to derive PAI and LAI from TLS data, but there is little consensus on the best approach, nor are methods benchmarked as standard.

Using TLS data collected in 33 plots containing 2472 trees of five species in Mediterranean forests, we compare three TLS methods (LiDAR Pulse, 2D Intensity Image and Voxel-Based) to derive PAI and compare with co-located DHP. We then separate leaf and wood in individual tree point clouds to calculate wood to total plant area (α), a metric to correct for non-photosynthetic material in LAI estimates. We use individual tree TLS point clouds to estimate how α varies with species, tree height and stand density.

We find the LiDAR Pulse method agrees most closely with DHP, but is limited to single scan data so cannot determine individual tree α. The Voxel-Based method shows promise for ecological studies as it can be applied to individual tree point clouds. Using the Voxel-Based method, we show that species explain some variation in α, however, height and density were stronger predictors.

Our findings highlight the value of TLS data to improve fundamental understanding of tree form and function, but also the importance of rigorous testing of TLS data processing methods at a time when new approaches are being rapidly developed. New algorithms need to be compared against traditional methods, and existing algorithms, using common reference data. Whilst promising, our results show that metrics derived from TLS data are not yet reliably calibrated and validated to the extent they are ready to replace traditional approaches for large scale monitoring of PAI and LAI.

WIlliam Rupert Moore Flynn et al.

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1055', Anonymous Referee #1, 05 Dec 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', William Flynn, 19 Jan 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1055', Anonymous Referee #2, 25 Dec 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', William Flynn, 19 Jan 2023

WIlliam Rupert Moore Flynn et al.

WIlliam Rupert Moore Flynn et al.

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Short summary
Quantifying vegetation indices is crucial for ecosystem monitoring and modelling. TLS has the potential to accurately measure vegetation indices, but multiple methods exist, with little consensus on best practice. We compare three methods and extract wood to plant ratio, a metric used to correct for wood in leaf indices. We show corrective metrics vary with tree structure and variation between methods, highlighting the value TLS data, but also the importance of rigorous testing.