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The penetration rate of laser pulses transmitted from a small-footprint airborne LiDAR: a case study in closed canopy, middle-aged pure sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) and hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc.) stands in Japan

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Journal of Forest Research

Abstract

Penetration rates of laser pulses transmitted from a small-footprint airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system in closed-canopy, middle-aged (40–50 years old) hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc.) and sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) plantations that had similar levels of canopy openness were studied. The number of transmitted pulses was 107 427 points/ha for the hinoki cypress stand and 122 883 points/ha for the sugi stand. The penetration rates of the first (Pf) and second pulses (Ps) that reached the ground were 0.1% and 1.0% in the hinoki cypress stand, and 2.6% and 5.5% in the sugi stand, respectively. Penetration rates for the total number of pulses (Pf+s) that reached the ground within each stand were 1.1% and 8.1%, respectively, and values for Pf+s, Pf, and Ps for sugi and hinoki cypress stands were significantly different (P < 0.001). The results of this study indicated that the generation of accurate digital terrain models in dense hinoki cypress stands with complex topographies using only the data from laser pulses with poor laser penetration rates is likely to be difficult.

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Author notes

  1. Tomoaki Takahashi

    Present address: Department of Forest Management, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1, Matsunosato, Tsukuba, 305-8687, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Environment and Resources, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

    Tomoaki Takahashi, Kazukiyo Yamamoto & Yosuke Miyachi

  2. Japan Science and Technology Agency/CREST, Kawaguchi, Japan

    Kazukiyo Yamamoto

  3. Nakanihon Air Service, Nishikasugai, Japan

    Yoshimichi Senda & Masashi Tsuzuku

Authors
  1. Tomoaki Takahashi
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  2. Kazukiyo Yamamoto
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  3. Yosuke Miyachi
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  4. Yoshimichi Senda
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  5. Masashi Tsuzuku
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Correspondence to Tomoaki Takahashi.

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Takahashi, T., Yamamoto, K., Miyachi, Y. et al. The penetration rate of laser pulses transmitted from a small-footprint airborne LiDAR: a case study in closed canopy, middle-aged pure sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) and hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc.) stands in Japan. J For Res 11, 117–123 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-005-0189-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-005-0189-0

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