Abstract
This paper proposes a methodology to estimate a “visible green index” in urban areas using airborne LiDAR and aerial photographs. The index is defined as a ratio of area occluded by vegetation to whole of area in azimuth angle-elevation angle space. The index can be applied to assess local landscape, and it is expected to estimate it in a wide area at low cost. The authors examined the methodology to estimate it using airborne LiDAR data measured in last-pulse mode and aerial photographs. The estimated index map was validated with the ground truth data, and the error was acceptable, approximately 4%. Estimated index has error at some points, but we are able to know influence of much vegetation acceptably by using this metrology. As a result, it was found that the proposed methodology is effective to estimate the index in a wide area at low cost.
