Automated Method for Delineating Harvested Stands Based on Harvester Location Data

Timo Melkas,Juha-Antti Sorsa,Kirsi Riekki

doi:10.3390/rs12172754

Timo Melkas, Juha-Antti Sorsa + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12172754

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Journal: Remote Sensing	Publication Date: Aug 25, 2020
Citations: 1	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Metsähallitus (Finland)

Abstract

The data produced by cut-to-length harvesters provide new large-scale data source for event-based update of national forest stand inventory by Finnish Forest Centre. This study aimed to automate geoprocessing, which generates delineations of operated areas from harvester location data. Automated algorithms were developed and tested with a dataset of 455 harvested objects, recorded during harvestings. In automated stand delineation, the location points are clustered, the stand points are identified and external strip roads are separated. Then, stand polygons are produced. To validate the results, automatic delineations were compared to 57 observed delineations from field measurements and aerial images. A detailed comparison method was developed to study the correspondence. Stand polygonization parameter was adjusted and areal correspondence with 1% error on average was obtained for stands over 0.75 ha. Good stand shape agreement was observed. Overall, the automated method worked well, and the operative stand delineations were found suitable for updating the forest inventory data. To modify the operative stands towards forest inventory stands, a balancing algorithm is introduced to create a solid, unique stand boundary between overlapping stands. This algorithm is beneficial for upkeep of stand networks. In addition, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) accuracy of the harvesters was examined and estimated numerically.

Highlights

Forest and wood procurement planning requires detailed and up-to-date information on forest stands’ structure and forest management operations [1,2]
The automatic method was run on all input harvester data that were available for the study
The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning accuracy of harvesters was examined at harvested object level both visually and analytically

Summary

Introduction

Forest and wood procurement planning requires detailed and up-to-date information on forest stands’ structure and forest management operations [1,2]. Up-to-date forest resource information provides a basis for decision making and the utilization of forest resources, as well as ensures that harvesting and forest management operations are carried out right on time. This is beneficial for both the forest owner in getting a better return on their forest assets and the forest industry in getting the timber assortment that they want at the right time in the right place [3]. The patterns of the compartments may originate from forest inventory units, economy-based units, operative units or monitoring units with fixed stand boundaries

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