Technology Transfer Ideas from the Private Sector

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Technology Transfer Ideas from the Private Sector

• John Paul McTague
• Rayonier, Inc.
• NCASI Biometrics Working Group, Chairman
• SAF National FIA User Group MeetingMarch 9,
  2011Sacramento, CA

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Three goals of Precision Forestry and individual
stem mapping

• Using geospatial information to assist forest
  management and planning
• Site specific silvicultural operations (site
  prep, regeneration, stand mgt)
• Efficient harvesting practices (merchandizing and
  transportation systems)

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Auburn Univ. is researching new techniques to
create tree volume maps based on ground-based and
remote sensing LiDAR data
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Value map based on sensor measurements mounted on
a tree feller
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The UW Precision Forestry Cooperative states that
spatial temporal resolution (of FIA plots) is
inadequate for answering important questions
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Remote sensing LiDAR and stem mapping of
Precision Forestry Coop
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What are the problems in matching individual tree
crowns of remote sensing data and ground-based
stem maps?
Individual stand on LiDAR image after tree
polygon creation. A polygon now surrounds every
visible tree crown.
Sample Frame - Ground or Map?(rarely will the
two coincide)
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As reported by J. Flewelling in 2006, 81 of the
individual tree crowns are the same as
interpretedcrowns
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Ground-based mapping with 3-D laser scanning
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Ground-based mapping with 3-D laser scanning(New
Zealand and Ireland)
The link between these two operations is not
widely divulged
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Murphy (2008) reports that hidden trees and false
positive trees equal 12 from a single point
Scanners cost 40,000 and can complete a 360
sweep in 80 sec.
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The stem measurements are not error free
Arc centers are estimated
The 10th percentile of the cloud data estimates
upper-stem dob well
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Other ground-based mapping approaches
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Other ground-based mapping approaches
(photographs in New Brunswick)
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Other ground-based mapping approaches(Haglöf
Postex sonic measurements)
Can be used in stands with dense understory
vegetation
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Interior West FIA has experience with stem
mapping
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The inference appears limited to estimates of
canopy cover
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Terrestrial laser scanning is expensive and
reliance upon aerial LiDAR is still imperative

• There is tremendous room for improvement in the
  matching algorithms and techniques

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Potential role for FIA plots?

• Create a pilot project to perfect the techniques
  of matching ground and aerial LiDAR

Stem mapped FIA plots
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Create value contour maps at macro level(county
state)

• Stem maps and better merchandising into multiple
  products can improve values by 160/acre

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Role of terrestrial laser scanning

• Equipment similar to the FARO scanner is probably
  not needed for FIA plots
• A single upper-stem measurement however could be
  used to localize a taper function for each
  measured tree, improving immensely the ability to
  merchandize and correctly value a tree into
  multiple products