Abstract
We demonstrate development of a forest biomass map by an efficient methodology using airborne LiDAR data, and validate its accuracy. The study area is Yokohama City, Japan, an area of 437.4 km2. An allometric equation was developed from field measurement data to convert canopy height measured by airborne LiDAR to biomass, and then a map of aboveground biomass (AGB) at 5 m resolution was produced. After validation, the estimation of AGB had a root mean square error of 60.6 Mg ha-1 and an average relative error of 38.7%. The total forest AGB in Yokohama was estimated as 913,450 Mg. The results suggest that airborne LiDAR is suitable for developing a reliable forest biomass map, even for scattered forests in urban area.
