Object-Based Tree Species Classification in Urban Ecosystems Using LiDAR and Hyperspectral Data

Zhongya Zhang,Ludmila Moskal,Diane Styers,Alexandra Kazakova

doi:10.3390/f7060122

Abstract

In precision forestry, tree species identification is key to evaluating the role of forest ecosystems in the provision of ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration and assessing their effects on climate regulation and climate change. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of tree species classification of urban forests using aerial-based HyMap hyperspectral imagery and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. First, we conducted an object-based image analysis (OBIA) to segment individual tree crowns present in LiDAR-derived Canopy Height Models (CHMs). Then, hyperspectral values for individual trees were extracted from HyMap data for band reduction through Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) transformation which allowed us to reduce the data to 20 significant bands out of 118 bands acquired. Finally, we compared several different classifications using Random Forest (RF) and Multi Class Classifier (MCC) methods. Seven tree species were classified using all 118 bands which resulted in 46.3% overall classification accuracy for RF versus 79.6% for MCC. Using only the 20 optimal bands extracted through MNF, both RF and MCC achieved an increase in overall accuracy to 87.0% and 88.9%, respectively. Thus, the MNF band selection process is a preferable approach for tree species classification when using hyperspectral data. Further, our work also suggests that RF is heavily disadvantaged by the high-dimensionality and noise present in hyperspectral data, while MCC is more robust when handling high-dimensional datasets with small sample sizes. Our overall results indicated that individual tree species identification in urban forests can be accomplished with the fusion of object-based LiDAR segmentation of crowns and hyperspectral characterization.

Highlights

IntroductionTree species identification is important for forest resource management and monitoring [1]
Tree species identification is important for forest resource management and monitoring [1].Individual tree level information of species distribution is used in a multitude of forestry applications, including wildlife habitat mapping and assessment [2] and biodiversity monitoring [3]
Two study areas were chosen for the current study; an area of southeast Seattle, Washington located within the 98118 zip code (ZIP) and the Washington Park Arboretum (WPA) (Figure 2)

Summary

Introduction

Tree species identification is important for forest resource management and monitoring [1]. Individual tree level information of species distribution is used in a multitude of forestry applications, including wildlife habitat mapping and assessment [2] and biodiversity monitoring [3]. And accurate species-specific tree mapping is an indispensable component for studying aboveground biomass and carbon stock in forests [4]. Forests provide social and economic benefits, and other vital ecosystem services upon which public health and welfare depend. Forests 2016, 7, 122 and water quality, absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 ), and moderating energy use [5]. Knowledge of tree species information plays a key role in assessing and valuing the quantity and quality of various services provided by forest ecosystems Trees can reduce adverse effects on the environment in urban areas by improving air Forests 2016, 7, 122; doi:10.3390/f7060122 www.mdpi.com/journal/forests

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