The importance of vegetation structure and biomass in controlling land-atmosphere exchange is widely recognized, but measurements of canopy structure are challenging, time consuming, and often rely on destructive methods. The Microsoft Kinect is an infrared sensor designed for video gaming that outputs synchronized color and depth images and that has the potential to allow rapid characterizatio...

The aim of this study is an evaluation of the use of (semi-) automatic software solutions for the derivation of crown surface models and further forest information like vegetation height and vertical stand structure. It gives an overview of the up-to-date reachable accuracies of crown surface models and vegetation heights from traditional aerial images in comparison with the results from laser ...

This work introduces an innovative radiometric terrain correction algorithm using PolInSAR imagery for improving forest vertical structure parameter estimation. The variance of radar backscattering caused by terrain undulation has been considered in this research by exploiting an iteration optimization procedure to improve the backscattering estimation for a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image...

Vegetation moderates a microclimate by casting shadows, increasing light reflection, evaporation and perspiration; and correcting wind patterns. The present study aims to investigate the microclimatic role of vegetated surfaces and bodies in improving thermal comfort in outdoor spaces between buildings. The main research question is which of the green system modes, that is, horizontal vegetatio...

Identifying factors that influence variation in light availability within forested ecosystems represents an important component in our understanding of the complex determinants of tree seedling regeneration. We assessed the influence of forest structure and canopy tree architecture on spatial heterogeneity of understory light availability in three old-growth and three second-growth forests in l...

McClure, A.; Liu, X.-H.; Hines, E., and Ferner, M.C., 0000. Evaluation of error reduction techniques on a LIDAR-derived salt marsh digital elevation model. Journal of Coastal Research, 00(0), 000–000. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 07490208. Accurate elevation information is a necessity for conservation and management of tidal salt marshes where elevation differences can be as little as 2 m and ...

Woody biomass dynamics are an expression of ecosystem function, yet biomass estimates do not provide information on the spatial distribution of woody vegetation within the vertical vegetation subcanopy. We demonstrate the ability of airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to measure aboveground biomass and subcanopy structure, as an explanatory tool to unravel vegetation dynamics in struct...

Rainforests represent the epitome of structural complexity in terrestrial ecosystems. However, measures of three-dimensional canopy structure are limited to a few areas typically < 1 ha with construction crane or walkway/platform access. An innovative laser pro® ling system, the Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS), was used to map canopy structure (i.e. based on height and vertical distribut...