Use of LiDAR to estimate stand characteristics for thinning operations in young Douglas-fir plantations

Background: Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) has been successfully used to describe a wide range of forest metrics at local, regional and national scales. However, little research has used this technology in young Douglas-fir stands to describe key stand characteristics used as criterion for operational thinning. The objective of this research was to develop models of Douglas-fir mean top height, basal area, volume, mean diameter (at breast height), green crown height and stand density from LiDAR and stand information. Methods: Data for this study were obtained from four widely separated young (age range of 9 to 17 years) Douglas-fir plantations in the South Island, New Zealand. LiDAR was acquired for the entire area and stand metrics were measured within 122 plots established across the study area. Spatially synchronous stand and LiDAR metrics were extracted from the plots. Using this dataset, multiple regression models were developed for each of the six stand metrics. Results: The final models constructed for mean top height, green crown height, total stem volume, mean diameter, basal area, and stand density had R-2 values of 0.85, 0.79, 0.86, 0.86, 0.84 and 0.55, respectively, with root mean square errors of 1.02 m, 0.427 m, 20.2 m(3) ha(-1), 13.9 mm, 3.81 m(2) ha(-1) and 355 stems ha(-1), respectively. With the exception of stand density, all relationships were relatively unbiased. Variables with the greatest contribution (with the partial R-2 in brackets) to models of mean top height, green crown height, volume, mean diameter and basal area included the 75th (0.85), 1st (0.76), 10th (0.83), 95th (0.74), and 10th (0.72) LiDAR height percentiles. The LiDAR height interquartile distance was the most important contributor (partial R-2 = 0.33) to the model of stand density. Conclusion: With the exception of stand density, the final models for stand metrics were sufficiently precise to be used for scheduling thinning operations. This study demonstrates the utility of LiDAR to accurately estimate key structural attributes of young Douglas-fir and to assist with forest management over a widely dispersed resource.