Estimation of forest surface fuel load using airborne lidar data

Yang Chen; Xuan Zhu; Marta Yebra; Sarah Harris; Nigel Tapper

doi:10.1117/12.2239715

18 October 2016 Estimation of forest surface fuel load using airborne lidar data

Yang Chen, Xuan Zhu, Marta Yebra, Sarah Harris, Nigel Tapper

Proceedings Volume 10005, Earth Resources and Environmental Remote Sensing/GIS Applications VII; 100050H (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2239715
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

Accurately describing forest surface fuel load is significant for understanding bushfire behaviour and suppression difficulties, predicting ongoing fires for operational activities, as well as assessing potential fire hazards. In this study, the Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data was used to estimate surface fuel load, due to its ability to provide three-dimensional information to quantify forest structural characteristics with high spatial accuracies. Firstly, the multilayered eucalypt forest vegetation was stratified by identifying the cut point of the mixture distribution of LiDAR point density through a non-parametric fitting strategy as well as derivative functions. Secondly, the LiDAR indices of heights, intensity, topography, and canopy density were extracted. Thirdly, these LiDAR indices, forest type and previous fire disturbances were then used to develop two predictive models to estimate surface fuel load through multiple regression analysis. Model 1 was developed based on LiDAR indices, which produced a R² value of 0.63. Model 2 (R² = 0.8) was derived from LiDAR indices, forest type and previous fire disturbances. The accurate and consistent spatial variation in surface fuel load derived from both models could be used to assist fire authorities in guiding fire hazard-reduction burns and fire suppressions in the Upper Yarra Reservoir area, Victoria, Australia.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Yang Chen, Xuan Zhu, Marta Yebra, Sarah Harris, and Nigel Tapper "Estimation of forest surface fuel load using airborne lidar data", Proc. SPIE 10005, Earth Resources and Environmental Remote Sensing/GIS Applications VII, 100050H (18 October 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2239715

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