Influencing Factors in Estimation of Leaf Angle Distribution of an Individual Tree from Terrestrial Laser Scanning Data

Leaf angle distribution (LAD) is an important attribute of forest canopy architecture and affects the solar radiation regime within canopy. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has been increasingly used in LAD estimation. The point clouds data suffer from occlusion effect, which leads to incomplete depends on measurement strategies such as number scans scanner location. Evaluating these factors understand how improve LAD, still lacking. Here, we introduce easy way estimating using open source software. Importantly, influence effect was evaluated by combining proposed complete (CPCs) with simulated 3D tree models Aspen, Pin Oak White Oak. We analyzed effects density, height G-function. Results show that: (1) CPC can be evaluate TLS-based normal vector reconstruction accuracy without effect; (2) slightly affected method greatly density effect. higher (with a points per unit leaf area 0.2 cm?2 27 tested), better result is; (3) performance more sensitive location than scans. Increasing improves estimation, not seriously considered previous studies. It worth noting that relatively tall trees severe deserves further attention study.