Algorithms for Stem Mapping by Means of Terrestrial Laser Scanning

Terrestrial laser scanning is an active remote-sensing technique, which has the potential to provide detailed spatial data for various applications in the fields of forestry and nature conservation. This study introduces algorithms and methods to extract individual tree parameters – such as tree location, stem diameter at breast height (DBH), and tree height – in automatic manner from terrestrial laser scanning data. The efficiency of the algorithms was tested on laser scanning data collected in a permanent sampling plot in the Hidegvíz-völgy forest reserve. The accuracy of the derived individual tree parameters was validated against tree metrics yielded by traditional field methods.