Lidar Point Cloud Based Fully Automatic 3d Singl Tree Modelling in Forest and Evaluations of the Procedure

A whole procedure of fully automatic 3D single tree modelling based on LIDAR point cloud is introduced in the paper. The evaluation of the procedure is then delivered by verifying the modelling results with field collecting data in sample plots. With the procedure, individual trees are extracted not only from the top canopy layer but also from the sub canopy layer, 3D shape of the extracted individual tree crowns are reconstructed, from which important parameters such as crown height range, crown volume and crown contours at different height levels can be derived. For the evaluation of the performance, the procedure is implemented with LIDAR data of 25 sample plots where detailed field inventories have been accomplished. Results of the procedure such as the number of individual trees in each sample plot, the location of the detected individual trees are verified by a statistical comparison with the field collecting data. Further analysis on the evaluation results is delivered at the final.