3D Modelling of Individual Trees Using Full-waveform Lidar

For the last few decades, analysis of forest area has been conducted using remote sensing techniques such as aerial photogrammetry, satellite imagery, synthetic aperture radar and lidar. Airborne laser scanning in particular offers a cost-effective, versatile, operationally flexible and robust sampling tool for forest management. There is a growing industry trend towards techniques of ‘precision forestry’ that result in precise mapping of vegetation structure with realistic 3D modelling, including the potential application of lidar technology. In Australia, state governments responsible for managing forests have been investing in long-term research for development and maintenance of the forests i.e. establishment of geographical distribution of plants, classification of plantation, construction of forest databases and detection of forest change. Estimation of biomass in the forest areas is gaining international attention that could be used as a potential natural resource. Using lidar technology, especially full-waveform lidar, it is expected that an accurate estimation of the total biomass of the forests is feasible, thus enabling the value of forestry to be estimated. The main aim of this paper is to identify the characteristics of full-waveform data over vegetated terrain, extracting individual tree structure and characteristics and in particular, modelling of individual trees in 2D and 3D using full-waveform data processing.