Recovering Plot-specific Diameter Distribution and Height- Diameter Curve Using Als Based Stand Characteristics

Density, diameter distribution and height-diameter (H-D) pattern of a forest stand are of primary importance in deriving various stand characteristics, but measuring diameters and heights of a tree stock is rather time-consuming. That is why theoretical diameter distribution and H-D models are usually employed. We examine the prediction of them for Scots pine sample plots using information obtained with airborne laser scanning (ALS). We propose a parameter recovery approach, where such values for the parameters of assumed diameter distribution and H-D models are determined, that satisfy the mathematical relationships between the predicted plot-specific characteristics. If the solution for the formulated system of equations exists, it is always compatible with the predictions of stand characteristics. The method is developed and tested with a dataset of 213 Scots pine stands. A solution was found for all but 2 plots. The proposed method appears to be a reasonable alternative for predicting stand structure from ALS data. ∗ Corresponding author