LiDAR Introduces Revolutionary Changes in Its Approach to Forest Management

Abstract

The harvesting of timber with a view to the sustainable use of timber resources is called yield regulation. One problem with using this simple indicator is the lack of information it provides for forest management. The first half of this paper will trace how indicators have shifted with time. As a result of looking back on the past, it was confirmed that a simple index was effective for preventing overcutting. The second half of this paper will outline the revolutionary changes introduced by LiDAR. The main findings were as follows. Firstly, because LiDAR has made it possible to measure tree heights, the fundamental data used in forest management will switch from diameter of breast height to tree height in the near future. Secondly, because population data of both trees and ground surface can be obtained through the analysis of LiDAR data, the base unit of forest management will switch from forest stand in nature to forest land artificially separated by squares like a grid. And lastly, because we can obtain both DSM and DTM from LiDAR data, we now have access to precise population data about standing trees and ground surface. This opens up new opportunities to help forest managers in their work. LiDAR has not only brought about a great technical innovation in the field of forest management, but it has also ushered in a major revolution in the philosophy of forest management.