%0 Articles
%T Forest mapping and monitoring using active 3D remote sensing
%A Vastaranta, Mikko
%D 2012
%J Dissertationes Forestales
%V 2012
%N 144
%R doi:10.14214/df.144
%U http://dissertationesforestales.fi/article/1927
%X In this thesis, forest mapping and monitoring applications using active 3D remote sensing (RS) were developed. The main aim in forest mapping and inventory is to produce accurate information for forest managers with the use of efficient methodologies. In forest monitoring, it is important to locate harvesting sites and stands where forest operations should be carried out as well as to provide updates regarding forest growth, among other changes in forest structure. In recent years, RS has taken a significant technological leap forward. It has become possible to acquire 3D, spatially accurate information from forest resources using active RS methods. In practical applications, mainly 3D information produced by airborne laser scanning (ALS) has opened up groundbreaking potential in natural resource mapping and monitoring. In addition to ALS, new satellite radars are also capable of acquiring spatially accurate 3D information. The main objectives of the present study were to develop 3D RS methodologies for large-area forest mapping and monitoring applications. In substudy I, we aim to map harvesting sites, while in substudy II, we monitor changes in the forest canopy structure. In studies III-V, efficient mapping and monitoring applications were developed and tested.

Spatially accurate 3D RS enables the mapping of harvesting sites, the monitoring of changes in the canopy structure and even the making of a fully RS-based forest inventory. ALS is carried out at relatively low altitudes, which makes it relatively expensive per area unit, and other RS materials are still needed. Spaceborne stereo radargrammetry proved to be a promising technique to acquire additional 3D RS data efficiently as long as an accurate digital terrain model is available as a ground-surface reference.