Abstract
Stand attributes such as stand density, stand height, stand volume, are important factors for sustainable forest management. This study aimed to estimate stand attributes in Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa stands in Japan from single tree detection using small-footprint airborne LiDAR data. Twenty circular sample plots of 0.04ha were established for this study. Their stand densities were estimated from the number of treetops derived from airborne LiDAR data using the local maximum filtering method. Stand densities derived from the field survey in the sample plots were compared with those obtained from airborne LiDAR data. The coefficient of determination between them was 0.92. Stand densities which were estimated from the airborne LiDAR data, were underestimated in both young and mature stands. Stand heights, which were estimated from the airborne LiDAR data, were slightly overestimated, but they were almost the same as the mean heights of dominant standing trees. Allometric equations between diameter at breast height (DBH) and crown area obtained from airborne LiDAR data were determined for each of two species, i.e., Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa, and DBH of individual trees was estimated from the airborne LiDAR data. Stand volumes were estimated from the cumulative individual volumes, which were derived from volume formulas with two variables, i.e., DBH and height, both obtained from airborne LiDAR data. Stand volumes derived from the field survey were compared with those obtained from the airborne LiDAR data. The coefficient of determination was 0.86. Stand volumes which were estimated from the airborne LiDAR data, were underestimated because of the lack of suppressed tree volume; however, the degree of underestimation was relatively low.
