Modeling Tree Characteristics of Individual Black Pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) Trees for Use in Remote Sensing-Based Inventory

Ivan Balenović,Hrvoje Marjanović,Anamarija Jazbec,Elvis Paladinić,Dijana Vuletić

doi:10.3390/f6020492

Ivan Balenović, Hrvoje Marjanović + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/f6020492

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Journal: Forests	Publication Date: Feb 16, 2015
Citations: 29	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Croatian Forest Research Institute, University of Zagreb

Abstract

The main aim was to develop models for predicting diameter at breast height (DBH), merchantable tree volume (V), and aboveground biomass (AGB) of individual black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) trees grown in Sub-Mediterranean Croatian pure even-aged forests, which will be suitable for remote sensing based forest inventories. In total, eight variables obtained from field measurement, existing database, and digital terrain model were candidates for independent variables in regression analysis. DBH, V, and AGB were modeled as linear function of each of the independent variables, and all possible linear combinations thereof. Goodness of fit of every model was then evaluated using R2 statistic. Comparison between selected models showed that the variability of all dependent variables are explained best by models which include both crown diameter and tree height as independent variables with coefficients of determination of 0.83, 0.89, 0.82 for DBH, V, and AGB, respectively. Consequently, these models may be recommended as the most suited for DBH, V and AGB estimation of black pine trees grown in pure Sub-Mediterranean forest stands using high-resolution aerial images or high-density airborne laser scanning data. This assumption should be further validated by conducting remote sensing inventory and comparing the obtained results with field measurement results.

Highlights

Tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH) are two of the more fundamental measurements in forest inventories and provide the basis for many other computations [1,2]
Prieditis et al [14] built a model with tree height as the only independent variable which provides reasonably accurate estimates of DBH (R2 = 0.792), but when the crown diameter and information about tree age and soil type obtained from existing forest database were added to the model, the accuracy of DBH increases (R2 = 0.872)
The main aim of this research was to develop models for predicting DBH, merchantable tree volume (V), and aboveground biomass (AGB) of individual black pine trees grown in Sub-Mediterranean Croatian forests which will be suitable for remote sensing-based forest inventories

Summary

Introduction

Tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH) are two of the more fundamental measurements in forest inventories and provide the basis for many other computations (e.g., basal area, volume, biomass, carbon stock, stand growth, etc.) [1,2]. Crown area and tree height are the most commonly used variables in modeling of DBH [4,5,6], stem volume [6,7,8,9,10] or tree aboveground biomass [7,11] for remote sensing-based inventory. Prieditis et al [14] built a model with tree height as the only independent variable which provides reasonably accurate estimates of DBH (R2 = 0.792), but when the crown diameter and information about tree age and soil type obtained from existing forest database were added to the model, the accuracy of DBH increases (R2 = 0.872). According to Maltamo et al [12], besides above-mentioned variables, the allometric relationship between main tree parameters (DBH, crown dimensions and tree height) could be affected by other variables, such as stand silvicultural history, genetic factors of tree seed, tree position in a stand, site fertility, stand development class, etc

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