Economic utility of 3D remote sensing data for estimation of site index in Nordic commercial forest inventories: a comparison of airborne laser scanning,digital aerial photogrammetry and conventional practices

ABSTRACT

Forest productivity is a crucial variable in forest planning, usually expressed as site index (SI). In Nordic commercial forest inventories, SI is commonly estimated by a combination of aerial image interpretation, field assessment and information obtained from previous inventories. Airborne laser scanning (ALS) and digital aerial photogrammetry (DAP) data can alternatively be used for SI estimation, however the economic utilities of the inventory methods have not been compared. We compared seven methods of SI estimation in a cost-plus-loss analysis, by which we added the expected economic losses due to sub-optimal treatment decisions to the inventory costs. The methods comprised direct and indirect estimation from combinations of ALS, DAP and stand register data, and manual interpretation from aerial imagery supported by field assessment and information from previous inventories (conventional practices). The choice of method had great impact on both the accuracy and the economic value of the produced estimates. Direct methods using bitemporal ALS and DAP data gave the best accuracy and the smallest total cost. DAP was a suitable and low-cost data source for SI estimation. Estimation from single-date ALS and DAP data and age obtained from the stand register provided practical alternatives when applied to even-aged stands.     

Application of digital photogrammetry to measure distribution of tree postions

The application of digital photogrammetry to measure distribution of tree positions with stereo image couple is introduced in detail, and the procedure of stereo vision applied in forestry environment is explored. Nonlinear error in measure model is adopted in the camera calibration; the interactive correlation matching is used under constraint of epipolar line and edge of tree detected by Canny operator. Results prove that application of digital photogrammetry technology to measure distribution of tree positions can meet demand of precision in experimental conditions.     

Multi‐temporal Digital Photogrammetric Analysis for Quantitative Assessment of Soil Erosion Rates in the Landola Catchment of the Upper Orcia Valley (Tuscany,Italy)

This paper focuses on the analysis of the slope and catchment erosion dynamics in a typical Mediterranean context and its sensitivity to recent climatic and socio‐economic changes. The main objective of the present study is to test the reliability of digital photogrammetric analysis to evaluate the time and space evolution of erosion processes mainly triggered by surface running waters and landslides for about the last 60 years. The selected test area is the Landola catchment, a minor tributary of the Upper Orcia River Valley (Southern Tuscany). The Upper Orcia valley is a key site for the comprehension of denudation processes typically acting in Mediterranean badland areas thanks to the following: (i) the availability of long‐lasting erosion monitoring datasets (20 years' long direct measurements at erosion ‘hot spots’); (ii) its representativeness as a sub‐humid Mediterranean badland area; and (iii) the rapidity of development of erosion processes, which makes it suitable as an open‐air laboratory for the study of badland dynamics. The outputs of this work highlight that the application of high‐resolution digital photogrammetric methodologies can represent a powerful and low‐cost tool to evaluate rates and spatial–temporal distribution of denudation processes, as confirmed by the validation through field point monitoring in areas close to the study area. The results obtained for the study area confirm that high erosion rates are a persistent environmental problem for the Upper Orcia Valley, which is not solved up to now, despite various land conservation interventions. The performed multi‐temporal analysis shows a slight decrease in the average water erosion rate during the last 60 years and a parallel increase in the frequency of mass wasting events. These variations are most likely related to a complex interplay between land use changes that have affected the study area during the studied period, revealing a very delicate equilibrium between farming activities and erosion processes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

全数字摄影测量系统产品开发与应用

应用全数字摄影测量系统开发了安塞纸坊沟流域数字高程模型(DEM)、数字正射影像图(DOM)和三维透视景观图等数字化产品，研究表明全数字摄影测量系统产品在水土保持领域有着广阔的应用前景。     

基于无人飞行器航测建立数字高程模型研究

为探索利用无人飞行器获取遥感影像并将之用于建立测区数字高程模型(DEM)的可行性,以南水北调山东省境内济平干渠部分区段为试验对象,进行了无人飞行器的遥感数据采集,并利用全数字摄影测量处理软件VirtuoZo对所得数据进行处理,生成测区数字高程模型.结果表明,数据处理过程中相对定向中误差较小,由于部分试验材料不能满足试验标准,绝对定向的中误差偏大,利用现有材料生成的数字高程模型精度不高.     

汽车车身模型表面点位测定的近景摄影测量方法

近景摄影测量是一种不接触物体而精确地测量物体的空间坐标及绘图的新型测量方法。本文简述了近景摄影测量的基本原理,通过对汽车模型外壳的近最摄影测量试验,绘制出汽车车身外形图和解算出模型点的空间坐标,其精度可达±0.302mm。研究表明,在汽车外型设计和品质检测中采用这种方法是行之有效的。     

无人机摄影获取单木三维信息方法研究

随着无人机航空摄影测量技术的成熟和发展,改变了传统森林调查的手段,加快了森林调查的数字化、智能化发展。为提高单木因子的采集效率和精度,降低外业的工作强度,基于倾斜摄影测量技术,以多旋翼无人机为数据采集平台,实现了孤立单木的三维点云模型重建。在此基础上,建立了单木三维信息量测算法,提出切割法和投影法两种提取树冠投影面积的方法,并提取树高、树干任意处直径、树冠投影面积、冠幅、树冠表面积、树冠体积6项测树因子参数。结果表明:1)树木的总高度和第一枝下高的提取精度分别为96.28%和95.61%,胸径和上部直径的提取精度分别为96.24%和93.78%;2)利用切割法和投影法提取树冠投影面积的精度分别为96.28%和98.24%,提取冠幅的精度分别为89.65%和91.50%,提取树冠表面积的精度分别为96.78%和97.58%,提取树冠体积的精度分别为94.29%和96.14%;3)实践证明,该技术可很好地应用到古树名木的保护工作中,并可对森林调查的方式提供新的技术参考,具有较高的现实意义和实际应用价值。     

微型旋翼无人机在水蚀外业调查中的应用

[目的]提高水土流失抽样调查的效率和准确度,降低难度和成本。[方法]应用微型旋翼无人机结合倾斜摄影测量技术,通过几何校正过程,多视图匹配,三角网(TIN)构建和自动赋予处理等步聚,建立调查单元的高分辨率正射影像和三维实景,然后通过人工解译的方法,得到调查区域内不同地块的边界和属性信息,代替传统现场勾绘的工作方式和技术流程。[结果]应用微型旋翼无人机有效提高了调查地块边界的精度,同时降低了现场调查的难度和成本,大大节约了调查时间。[结论]应用微型旋翼无人机提高了基于抽样现场调查方法的水土流失评价结果的可靠性,有利于促进抽样调查方法在各级政府水土流失评价中的采用,以及水土流失评价定量化技术的发展。     

黄土坡面细沟沟头溯源侵蚀的量化研究

沟头溯源侵蚀占坡面细沟侵蚀量的60%以上。该文运用立体摄影测量技术和人工模拟径流冲刷的方法,研究不同流量和坡度下沟头溯源侵蚀过程及其产沙特征,探讨沟头下切造成的地表形态变化对坡面产沙的影响。结果表明:1)坡面产沙率和沟头溯源侵蚀速率随流量和坡度的增加而增大。流量每增加1 L/min,产沙率增加0.59~5.34倍;坡度从15°增加到20°,产沙率增加14.0%~89.7%。2)当流量小于或等于2 L/min时,产沙率在试验初期增加较快,而后缓慢上升;当流量大于2 L/min时,产沙率始终保持快速上升趋势,沟头溯源长度达到100 cm所需时间较流量为1 L/min时缩短12 min以上。3)坡度对沟头溯源侵蚀速率的影响随流量的增加逐渐减弱。4)细沟长度随时间的变化受流量和坡度的影响,其值可由线性增函数表达;产沙率受沟头溯源侵蚀速率、沟头跌坎高度和沟头下方沟槽内发育的二级沟头数影响,其值可由多元非线性回归方程表示。研究结果可为沟头溯源侵蚀预报模型建立和坡面水土保持措施布设提供理论依据。