Article
Environmental Sciences
Svetlana Turubanova, Peter Potapov, Matthew C. Hansen, Xinyuan Li, Alexandra Tyukavina, Amy H. Pickens, Andres Hernandez-Serna, Adrian Pascual Arranz, Juan Guerra-Hernandez, Cornelius Senf, Tuomas Hame, Ruben Valbuena, Lars Eklundh, Olga Brovkina, Barbora Navratilova, Jan Novotny, Nancy Harris, Fred Stolle
Summary: European forests have shown a slight increase in tree canopy extent over the past two decades, with the most significant growth observed in Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, and the British Isles. However, after 2016, there has been a decline in tree canopy extent in Europe. Some regions, particularly Fennoscandia, have experienced a reduction in tree canopy extent between 2001 and 2021. Additionally, the continental extent of tall tree canopy forests has decreased during this period.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lonesome Malambo, Sorin Popescu, Meng Liu
Summary: By combining ICESat-2 data with ancillary datasets, spatially complete canopy height data can be generated at a regional level in the United States. The model shows reasonable accuracy in predicting canopy height and performs better than the existing global dataset when compared with airborne lidar-derived measurements.
Article
Remote Sensing
Hui Wang, Travis Seaborn, Zhe Wang, Christopher C. Caudill, Timothy E. Link
Summary: Combining LiDAR and Landsat datasets, the study used spatially-weighted geographical random forest (GRF) and traditional random forest (TRF) methods to predict tree canopy height in a mixed dry forest woodland in complex mountainous terrain. Comparisons between the two models showed that the GRF model could lower extreme residuals, leading to stronger model performance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kasip Tiwari, Lana L. Narine
Summary: This study aimed to develop a canopy height map over the southeastern US using ICESat-2 data and compare different modeling approaches. The results showed that the regression kriging (RK) method was feasible for larger spatial scales and had the potential for combining with other remote sensing and satellite data for future monitoring of canopy height dynamics.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Heather Kay, Maurizio Santoro, Oliver Cartus, Pete Bunting, Richard Lucas
Summary: Forest structure is a complex and diverse system globally, which can be explained and evaluated using the nearly global coverage provided by ICESat GLAS LiDAR footprint data and a simple allometric model. The relationship between canopy height and density varies across different ecoregions, and the single parameter of the allometric model is associated with the maximum canopy density and height values globally.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaocheng Zhou, Youzhuang Hao, Liping Di, Xiaoqin Wang, Chongcheng Chen, Yunzhi Chen, Gabor Nagy, Tamas Jancso
Summary: This study proposes a method for estimating forest canopy height by combining long-time series Landsat images with GEDI satellite-based LiDAR data. The results show that this method can provide more accurate estimates of forest canopy height, which is important for forest resource management, conservation, carbon stock, and biodiversity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sungchan Oh, Jinha Jung, Guofan Shao, Gang Shao, Joey Gallion, Songlin Fei
Summary: The forest canopy height model (CHM) is a crucial tool for analyzing forest stocking and its spatiotemporal variations. This study presents a high-resolution CHM generation method using U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) LiDAR data for the entire state of Indiana, USA. The accuracy of the CHM was validated through comparison with field-based height measurements. Furthermore, the resulting CHM can serve as critical baseline information for monitoring and management decisions, as well as the calculation of other key forest metrics.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Angela Tsao, Ikenna Nzewi, Ayodeji Jayeoba, Uzoma Ayogu, David B. Lobell
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of existing global canopy height map (CHM) products and a locally trained model using GEDI and optical satellite data in oil palm plantations in Nigeria. It found that existing CHMs performed poorly in the region, but the locally trained model performed well and reduced errors for short trees.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peter Potapov, Xinyuan Li, Andres Hernandez-Serna, Alexandra Tyukavina, Matthew C. Hansen, Anil Kommareddy, Amy Pickens, Svetlana Turubanova, Hao Tang, Carlos Edibaldo Silva, John Armston, Ralph Dubayah, J. Bryan Blair, Michelle Hofton
Summary: The study utilized GEDI and Landsat data to create a global forest canopy height map, enabling monitoring of forest height and dynamics. The integration of GEDI data with optical imagery demonstrated in the study provides new possibilities for historical analysis and future monitoring.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Esmaeel Adrah, Wan Shafrina Wan Mohd Jaafar, Hamdan Omar, Shaurya Bajaj, Rodrigo Vieira Leite, Siti Munirah Mazlan, Carlos Alberto Silva, Maggie Chel Gee Ooi, Mohd Nizam Mohd Said, Khairul Nizam Abdul Maulud, Adrian Cardil, Midhun Mohan
Summary: The study investigates the influential climatic and environmental drivers of canopy height in tropical forests in Malaysia and explores the relationship between canopy height and water availability and elevation. The findings are important for understanding the variation in tree height in tropical forests and support the development of ecosystem modeling, forest management practices, and monitoring forest response to climate change.
Article
Forestry
Xiao Dai, Mark J. Ducey, Haozhou Wang, Ting-Ru Yang, Yung-Han Hsu, Jae Ogilvie, John A. Kershaw
Summary: The study demonstrates that sector subsampling using spherical images in the field is an efficient and accurate alternative to traditional field-based methods, with results comparable to field data despite measuring far fewer trees. By applying Bruce's formula for standard error estimation, this subsampling approach can be generalized to any hierarchical dimension.
Article
Plant Sciences
Cong Xu, Dan Zhao, Zhaoju Zheng, Ping Zhao, Junhua Chen, Xiuwen Li, Xueming Zhao, Yujin Zhao, Wenjun Liu, Bingfang Wu, Yuan Zeng
Summary: Compared to traditional field sampling, LiDAR technology provides a time-saving and cost-effective way to map grassland canopy height. However, UAV LiDAR-based grassland canopy height estimation is usually underestimated due to the complex structure of grassland and small size of individual plants. We developed a canopy height correction method based on scan angle to improve the accuracy of height estimation by compensating for the loss of grassland height.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuncheng Deng, Jiya Pan, Jinliang Wang, Qianwei Liu, Jianpeng Zhang
Summary: This study introduces a rapid method for biomass estimation in alpine and canyon areas using space-borne LiDAR data and optical remote-sensing images. By establishing extrapolation and growth models, the aboveground biomass and carbon storage in Shangri-La City were successfully estimated and verified.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cangjiao Wang, Andrew J. Elmore, Izaya Numata, Mark A. Cochrane, Shaogang Lei, Christopher R. Hakkenberg, Yuanyuan Li, Yibo Zhao, Yu Tian
Summary: This study proposes a point-surface fusion framework (FPSF-CH) for canopy height mapping using GEDI data. The effectiveness of FPSF-CH was validated, showing improved accuracy compared to other methods. The integration of GEDI data provides a new avenue for accurate wall-to-wall canopy height mapping.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nian-Wei Ku, Sorin Popescu, Marian Eriksson
Summary: This study aimed to assess the accuracy of a selected GCHM by comparing it with airborne lidar data from the southern United States, followed by recalibration to improve alignment with local forest canopy heights. The evaluation and recalibration were based on the 90th and 95th percentiles of lidar height values. The research concluded that characterizing the agreement of a GCHM with local data and recalibrating it for the specific region are essential for future large-scale studies.
Article
Forestry
Francisco Mauro, Antonio Garcia-Abril, Esperanza Ayuga-Tellez, Alberto Rojo-Alboreca, Ruben Valbuena, Jose Antonio Manzanera
Summary: The study successfully transformed Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) yield tables into diameter distribution models, with the parameter recovery method based on both mean and quadratic mean diameter achieving the best results by explaining 70% of the variability of frequencies by diameter classes and providing better performance in error analysis.
ANNALS OF FOREST SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jeferson Asprilla-Perea, Jose M. Diaz-Puente, Susana Martin-Fernandez
Summary: This paper proposes a multidisciplinary method to assess and promote the potential of wild foods as alternative resources in tropical forest areas for improved food and nutrition security. Two main wild foods were selected for application, with significant advances in science, technology and innovation, but still requiring compliance with certain criteria to be considered viable options for nutrition and food security.
Article
Forestry
Alvaro Sanchez-Medina, Esperanza Ayuga-Tellez, Maria Angeles Grande-Ortiz, Concepcion Gonzalez-Garcia, Antonio Garcia-Abril
Summary: A new method for classifying beech forest plots based on discriminant and frequency analysis has been proposed. This method allows experts to stratify beech forests in a simple and accurate way, with a high level of correctly assigned plots indicating an accurate classification of structure that can be used with only the diameter at breast height measurement.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rene Ulloa-Espindola, Susana Martin-Fernandez
Summary: Using the Dinamica EGO cellular automata and multivariable software, spatial predictions of urban settlements and land use changes in 2023, 2028 and 2038 were generated for the Machachi Valley near Quito. The results showed a significant net increase in urban land use, particularly in the south of Quito, with the potential appearance of new urban settlements. Additionally, a decline in native forests and forest plantations is expected due to their substitution by shrub vegetation or agriculture and livestock land use, highlighting the importance of policies to control the land market and protect natural areas.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Luis G. Garcia-Montero, Cristina Pascual, Alfonso Sanchez-Paus Diaz, Susana Martin-Fernandez, Pablo Martin-Ortega, Fernando Garcia-Robredo, Carlos Calderon-Guerrero, Chiara Patriarca, Danilo Mollicone
Summary: Research indicates that forest land use is the most predominant in temperate FAO ecozones in Europe, with an increasing trend in Trees Outside Forests and forest land use. Trees Outside Forests account for 22% of the inventoried area in the temperate FAO ecozones in Europe, with proportions reaching 30% and 48% in cropland and grassland land use categories. However, the studied TOFs in temperate FAO zones in Europe show a downward trend, while the Mediterranean area shows an upward trend.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Susana Martin-Fernandez, Eugenio Martinez-Falero, Jose Ramon Peribanez, Alejandra Ezquerra
Summary: This paper presents a new territorial measurement approach for the reliability of fire departments - the collapse index, to assist decision makers in determining their response capability. A new fire station location model is proposed using simulated annealing method and geographic information system. The optimization model successfully reduces the maximum collapse index in a pixel with new fire stations in Madrid region, emphasizing the importance of reliability in emergency services.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Victor Rincon, Javier Velazquez, Javier Gutierrez, Ana Hernando, Alexander Khoroshev, Inmaculada Gomez, Fernando Herraez, Beatriz Sanchez, Juan Pablo Luque, Antonio Garcia-abril, Tomas Santamaria, Daniel Sanchez-Mata
Summary: The Natura 2000 Network aims to protect habitats and species in their natural areas of distribution, with connectivity being a crucial part of conservation efforts. By generating a value map for biodiversity, proposing 4 protection levels, and calculating connectivity indices in different scenarios, new boundaries can cover more areas of interest for biodiversity and connectivity importance. The proposed method can be applied to any European territory.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Ana Hernando, Inigo Sobrini, Javier Velazquez, Antonio Garcia-Abril
Summary: This study presents a methodology for assessing the urban use capacity in a Natura 2000 site in Central Spain. By utilizing high-resolution images and LiDAR data, the assessment considers various factors such as tree height, slopes, and existing protected habitats. The methodology can be applied to any protected area to harmonize biodiversity conservation and human activities.
Article
Forestry
Alejandro Rodriguez-Vivancos, Jose Antonio Manzanera, Susana Martin-Fernandez, Alba Garcia-Cimarras, Antonio Garcia-Abril
Summary: This study evaluates the impact of different data types based on ALS and SfM on forest evaluation. The results indicate that ALS outperforms SfM in estimating stand structure variables, while SfM performs better when normalized with its own DTM.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laura Duncanson, James R. Kellner, John Armston, Ralph Dubayah, David M. Minor, Steven Hancock, Sean P. Healey, Paul L. Patterson, Svetlana Saarela, Suzanne Marselis, Carlos E. Silva, Jamis Bruening, Scott J. Goetz, Hao Tang, Michelle Hofton, Bryan Blair, Scott Luthcke, Lola Fatoyinbo, Katharine Abernethy, Alfonso Alonso, Hans-Erik Andersen, Paul Aplin, Timothy R. Baker, Nicolas Barbier, Jean Francois Bastin, Peter Biber, Pascal Boeckx, Jan Bogaert, Luigi Boschetti, Peter Brehm Boucher, Doreen S. Boyd, David F. R. P. Burslem, Sofia Calvo-Rodriguez, Jerome Chave, Robin L. Chazdon, David B. Clark, Deborah A. Clark, Warren B. Cohen, David A. Coomes, Piermaria Corona, K. C. Cushman, Mark E. J. Cutler, James W. Dalling, Michele Dalponte, Jonathan Dash, Sergio de-Miguel, Songqiu Deng, Peter Woods Ellis, Barend Erasmus, Patrick A. Fekety, Alfredo Fernandez-Landa, Antonio Ferraz, Rico Fischer, Adrian G. Fisher, Antonio Garcia-Abril, Terje Gobakken, Jorg M. Hacker, Marco Heurich, Ross A. Hill, Chris Hopkinson, Huabing Huang, Stephen P. Hubbell, Andrew T. Hudak, Andreas Huth, Benedikt Imbach, Kathryn J. Jeffery, Masato Katoh, Elizabeth Kearsley, David Kenfack, Natascha Kljun, Nikolai Knapp, Kamil Kral, Martin Krucek, Nicolas Labriere, Simon L. Lewis, Marcos Longo, Richard M. Lucas, Russell Main, Jose A. Manzanera, Rodolfo Vasquez Martinez, Renaud Mathieu, Herve Memiaghe, Victoria Meyer, Abel Monteagudo Mendoza, Alessandra Monerris, Paul Montesano, Felix Morsdorf, Erik Naesset, Laven Naidoo, Reuben Nilus, Michael O'Brien, David A. Orwig, Konstantinos Papathanassiou, Geoffrey Parker, Christopher Philipson, Oliver L. Phillips, Jan Pisek, John R. Poulsen, Hans Pretzsch, Christoph Rudiger, Sassan Saatchi, Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa, Nuria Sanchez-Lopez, Robert Scholes, Carlos A. Silva, Marc Simard, Andrew Skidmore, Krzysztof Sterenczak, Mihai Tanase, Chiara Torresan, Ruben Valbuena, Hans Verbeeck, Tomas Vrska, Konrad Wessels, Joanne C. White, Lee J. T. White, Eliakimu Zahabu, Carlo Zgraggen
Summary: This paper presents the development of models used by NASA's Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) to estimate forest aboveground biomass density (AGBD). The models were developed using globally distributed field and airborne lidar data, with simulated relative height metrics as predictor variables. The study found that stratification by geographic domain and the use of square root transformation improved model performance.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Angel J. Martin-Fernandez, Sigfredo Ortuno, Susana Martin-Fernandez
Summary: This paper presents a methodology to achieve a sustainable distribution of red deer by age and sex classes over time. The method uses iteration and convergence to obtain the dominant eigenvalue and eigenvector of the biological matrix, representing the annual growth rate and ideal population distribution. The method has been applied to a fenced preserve in Spain, providing insights for population control and biodiversity preservation.
Article
Environmental Studies
Cintya Elizabeth Manrique Anticona, Jose Luis Yague Blanco, Isabel Cristina Pascual Castano
Summary: Interest in conserving agricultural heritage for climate change is promoted by FAO through the GIAHS program, which aims to identify and protect traditional farming systems, landscapes, biodiversity, knowledge, and culture. This study focuses on identifying and quantifying traditional agricultural systems in Spain using GIAHS criteria. The results reveal 50 potential agroecosystems, with 15 of them classified as having high potential, supporting the creation of a national network.
Article
Agricultural Economics & Policy
So Young Lee, Susana Martin-Fernandez, Jose M. Diaz-Puente
Summary: Interactive innovation is a collaborative process involving various stakeholders, utilizing participatory methodologies and diverse perspectives to address communication and conflicts in rural innovation projects.
