Assessing the Accuracy of GEDI Data for Canopy Height and Aboveground Biomass Estimates in Mediterranean Forests
Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) satellite mission is expanding the spatial bounds and temporal resolution of large-scale mapping applications. Integrating the recent GEDI data into Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS)-derived estimations represents a global opportunity to update and extend f...
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doaj-0f9acd91527f4456bfd67ec5c32f2b2d2021-06-30T23:50:31ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-06-01132279227910.3390/rs13122279Assessing the Accuracy of GEDI Data for Canopy Height and Aboveground Biomass Estimates in Mediterranean ForestsIván Dorado-Roda0Adrián Pascual1Sergio Godinho2Carlos A. Silva3Brigite Botequim4Pablo Rodríguez-Gonzálvez5Eduardo González-Ferreiro6Juan Guerra-Hernández7Departamento de Tecnología Minera, Topografía y de Estructuras, Escuela Superior y Técnica de Ingenieros de Minas y Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria y Forestal, Universidad de León, Av. de Astorga s/n, Campus de Ponferrada, 24401 Ponferrada, SpainCenter for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HA 96720, USAEaRSLab—Earth Remote Sensing Laboratory, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, PortugalSchool of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110410, Gainesville, FL 32611, USAForest Research Centre, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalDepartamento de Tecnología Minera, Topografía y de Estructuras, Escuela Superior y Técnica de Ingenieros de Minas y Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria y Forestal, Universidad de León, Av. de Astorga s/n, Campus de Ponferrada, 24401 Ponferrada, SpainDepartamento de Tecnología Minera, Topografía y de Estructuras, Escuela Superior y Técnica de Ingenieros de Minas y Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria y Forestal, Universidad de León, Av. de Astorga s/n, Campus de Ponferrada, 24401 Ponferrada, SpainForest Research Centre, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalGlobal Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) satellite mission is expanding the spatial bounds and temporal resolution of large-scale mapping applications. Integrating the recent GEDI data into Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS)-derived estimations represents a global opportunity to update and extend forest models based on area based approaches (ABA) considering temporal and spatial dynamics. This study evaluates the effect of combining ALS-based aboveground biomass (AGB) estimates with GEDI-derived models by using temporally coincident datasets. A gradient of forest ecosystems, distributed through 21,766 km<sup>2</sup> in the province of Badajoz (Spain), with different species and structural complexity, was used to: (<i>i</i>) assess the accuracy of GEDI canopy height in five Mediterranean Ecosystems and (<i>ii</i>) develop GEDI-based AGB models when using ALS-derived AGB estimates at GEDI footprint level. In terms of Pearson’s correlation (r) and rRMSE, the agreement between ALS and GEDI statistics on canopy height was stronger in the denser and homogeneous coniferous forest of <i>P. pinaster</i> and <i>P. pinea</i> than in sparse <i>Quercus</i>-dominated forests. The GEDI-derived AGB models using relative height and vertical canopy metrics yielded a model efficiency (Mef) ranging from 0.31 to 0.46, with a RMSE ranging from 14.13 to 32.16 Mg/ha and rRMSE from 38.17 to 84.74%, at GEDI footprint level by forest type. The impact of forest structure confirmed previous studies achievements, since GEDI data showed higher uncertainty in highly multilayered forests. In general, GEDI-derived models (GEDI-like Level4A) underestimated AGB over lower and higher ALS-derived AGB intervals. The proposed models could also be used to monitor biomass stocks at large-scale by using GEDI footprint level in Mediterranean areas, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas for forest inventory. The findings from this study serve to provide an initial evaluation of GEDI data for estimating AGB in Mediterranean forest.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/12/2279aboveground carbonforest monitoringspaceborne LiDARdata fusion |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Iván Dorado-Roda Adrián Pascual Sergio Godinho Carlos A. Silva Brigite Botequim Pablo Rodríguez-Gonzálvez Eduardo González-Ferreiro Juan Guerra-Hernández |
spellingShingle |
Iván Dorado-Roda Adrián Pascual Sergio Godinho Carlos A. Silva Brigite Botequim Pablo Rodríguez-Gonzálvez Eduardo González-Ferreiro Juan Guerra-Hernández Assessing the Accuracy of GEDI Data for Canopy Height and Aboveground Biomass Estimates in Mediterranean Forests Remote Sensing aboveground carbon forest monitoring spaceborne LiDAR data fusion |
author_facet |
Iván Dorado-Roda Adrián Pascual Sergio Godinho Carlos A. Silva Brigite Botequim Pablo Rodríguez-Gonzálvez Eduardo González-Ferreiro Juan Guerra-Hernández |
author_sort |
Iván Dorado-Roda |
title |
Assessing the Accuracy of GEDI Data for Canopy Height and Aboveground Biomass Estimates in Mediterranean Forests |
title_short |
Assessing the Accuracy of GEDI Data for Canopy Height and Aboveground Biomass Estimates in Mediterranean Forests |
title_full |
Assessing the Accuracy of GEDI Data for Canopy Height and Aboveground Biomass Estimates in Mediterranean Forests |
title_fullStr |
Assessing the Accuracy of GEDI Data for Canopy Height and Aboveground Biomass Estimates in Mediterranean Forests |
title_full_unstemmed |
Assessing the Accuracy of GEDI Data for Canopy Height and Aboveground Biomass Estimates in Mediterranean Forests |
title_sort |
assessing the accuracy of gedi data for canopy height and aboveground biomass estimates in mediterranean forests |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Remote Sensing |
issn |
2072-4292 |
publishDate |
2021-06-01 |
description |
Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) satellite mission is expanding the spatial bounds and temporal resolution of large-scale mapping applications. Integrating the recent GEDI data into Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS)-derived estimations represents a global opportunity to update and extend forest models based on area based approaches (ABA) considering temporal and spatial dynamics. This study evaluates the effect of combining ALS-based aboveground biomass (AGB) estimates with GEDI-derived models by using temporally coincident datasets. A gradient of forest ecosystems, distributed through 21,766 km<sup>2</sup> in the province of Badajoz (Spain), with different species and structural complexity, was used to: (<i>i</i>) assess the accuracy of GEDI canopy height in five Mediterranean Ecosystems and (<i>ii</i>) develop GEDI-based AGB models when using ALS-derived AGB estimates at GEDI footprint level. In terms of Pearson’s correlation (r) and rRMSE, the agreement between ALS and GEDI statistics on canopy height was stronger in the denser and homogeneous coniferous forest of <i>P. pinaster</i> and <i>P. pinea</i> than in sparse <i>Quercus</i>-dominated forests. The GEDI-derived AGB models using relative height and vertical canopy metrics yielded a model efficiency (Mef) ranging from 0.31 to 0.46, with a RMSE ranging from 14.13 to 32.16 Mg/ha and rRMSE from 38.17 to 84.74%, at GEDI footprint level by forest type. The impact of forest structure confirmed previous studies achievements, since GEDI data showed higher uncertainty in highly multilayered forests. In general, GEDI-derived models (GEDI-like Level4A) underestimated AGB over lower and higher ALS-derived AGB intervals. The proposed models could also be used to monitor biomass stocks at large-scale by using GEDI footprint level in Mediterranean areas, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas for forest inventory. The findings from this study serve to provide an initial evaluation of GEDI data for estimating AGB in Mediterranean forest. |
topic |
aboveground carbon forest monitoring spaceborne LiDAR data fusion |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/12/2279 |
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