Quantification of tree species biomass and topographic survey using ground based LiDAR in Chikaldhara hill station, Maharashtra
Student name: Mr Gurveek Singh Maan
Guide: Mr Chander Kumar Singh
Year of completion: 2012
Host Organisation: Geokno India Private Limited, Kanpur
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Balaji Nagarajan
Abstract: The structural parameters of forest are important to forest inventory, carbon cycling
modelling and for better sustainable ecological management. The quality of scientific
techniques to measure the forest biological characteristics is rapidly needed. The novel
technique of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) provides the efficient measurement of
forest characteristics like tree height, DBH etc. A terrestrial laser scanner (Optech’s ILRIS
3D scanner) has been used to measure forest inventory in Chikaldhara, a Hill station located
in Vidarbha region (eastern Melaghat) of Maharashtra. The laser scanning has been used for
(1) Topographic survey (2).To estimate different tree species biomass & carbon stock
estimation. DGPS, Total Station and Auto level survey is carried out in study area. DGPS
and Auto level values are used to convert TLS local coordinate system to Global coordinate
system. From LiDAR data 3D model’s Digital Surface Model (DSM), Digital Terrain Model
(DTM) and Digital canopy model (DCP) is created. Tree works as a sink of carbon dioxide
because they reduce emission in atmosphere. Trees sequester carbon dioxide from
atmospheres and that store in trees different parts For biomass estimation Girth at breast
height (GBH) measured in field, height of individual trees (H) has been derived from LiDAR
data and wooden density (S) is taken from FAO. The main goal of this study is the
topographic survey using terrestrial laser scanner and estimation of biomass and carbon
stock present in 14 different tree species in study area. Forest structural and characterisation
information is measured only for 80 trees which have GBH>30 cm. DBH is measured from
GBH. The average DBH of 80 trees is 43.30 cm. Tree heights are extracted manually from
point cloud data. The average LiDAR height of trees is 9.44m. Then LiDAR derived tree
height and field measured other forest parameter is used to calculate individual tree species
biomass and carbon stock. In field measurement the average biomass and carbon stock of
selected 80 different tree species is found 3.542 and 1.523tons respectively.
Keywords: Biomass, Carbon Stock, LiDAR, DBH, GBH, Tree Height
