Using LiDAR for Forest Management Planning
Today we would like to focus on one of the tools that we use to inform our forest management planning decisions- LiDAR!
LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method used to examine the surface of the Earth.
How does it work? Light, in the form of a pulsed laser emitted from an airborne vehicle such as a plane or a helicopter is used to measure ranges (or variable distances) to the Earth. These light pulses, combined with other data recorded can generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics.
Lidar data has widespread applications, and it is increasingly becoming an important tool utilized by forest professionals in planning and implementing forest management activities. One of the Lidar derived products that is particularly useful in making informed forest management decisions is a “Hillshade”. Hillshades provide a 3D representation of the surface of the earth without showing features such as trees and most structures. Users can easily identify many topographical features such as watercourses, wet areas, steep slopes, and rugged terrain that may not be as apparent when using only aerial photos for planning purposes.
A comparison of an aerial photo and a hillshade are featured in this post. Can anyone guess what community and surrounding area is featured in these images?
Lidar-derived products, such as hillshades, provide many benefits from a forest management planning perspective. These include (but are not limited to): optimizing road/trail layout and machine travel routes, pre-identifying watercourses, wet areas, and other sensitive features as well as delineating areas that may be challenging to access operationally due to factors such as steep slopes and rugged terrain.
We at the WWSC are very excited that the Province of Nova Scotia has recently released new LiDAR data that covers the majority of Central, Western and Southwest Nova Scotia. This information is available free of charge though the DataLocator-Elevation Explorer. We encourage anyone interested to check out this information at the following link: https://geonova.novascotia.ca/.../new-provincial-lidar....
More general information and some helpful resources on Lidar can be found here: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/lidar.html
As always, feel free to get in touch with WWSC staff with all your woodlot management related inquiries!