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Impact of Slope, Aspect, and Habitat-Type on LiDAR-Derived Digital Terrain Models in a Near Natural, Heterogeneous Temperate Forest

PFG – Journal of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science volume 85, pages 243–255 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Developments in airborne LiDAR data acquisition have provided better horizontal and vertical ground information in the form of 3D point clouds. This has led to satisfactory results of LiDAR-derived digital terrain models (DTMs), also across complex ecosystems like natural forest stands. However, data and site-driven factors such as spatial resolution (point density), topography (slope and aspect), and variation in forest habitat types affect the DTM accuracy. In addition, processing steps like ground filtering and interpolation of ground points may also result in differences in DTM quality. Here, a comparative study was designed by extracting DTMs from two LiDAR data sources (high- and low-density point clouds) and three ground-filtering algorithms (adaptive TIN algorithm with and without the use of mirror points as well as an interpolation-based algorithm). The accuracy of the DTMs was assessed in association with terrain parameter and forest habitat types across heterogeneous forest sites of Bavarian Forest National Park in southeastern Germany. Qualitative analysis was carried out by taking 8300 independent sets of DGPS-recorded sample points. In addition to deriving root-mean-square error (RMSE) and bias, analysis of variance (ANOVA) type II was conducted in a factorial design to assess the influential factors on the observed DTM random error. Results revealed these errors in the DTMs with occasional over- and underestimations up to 1.98 m compared to reference elevation values. DTMs produced from high pulse density LiDAR data were more accurate than those extracted from low pulse density. Furthermore, topographic and forest habitat-type factors significantly contributed to the DTM accuracy. Slope increment showed a direct relationship with DTM error, with higher errors observed in south, southwest, and west aspects. Furthermore, stands dominated by deciduous trees were associated with higher DTM error than other forest habitat types. The applied adaptive TIN ground-filtering algorithms with mirror points and the interpolation-based algorithm both produced comparatively lower error rates, which are, therefore, suggested to reduce interpolation error in DTMs across rugged and heterogeneous forested terrains.

Zusammenfassung

Einfluss von Neigung, Exposition und Habitattyp auf die von LiDAR erfassten digitalen Geländemodelle bei naturnahen Mischwäldern in den gemäßigten Breiten. Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS, LiDAR) ermöglicht die Ableitung von hochpräzisen, horizontalen und vertikalen Geländeinformationen aus 3D-Punktwolken. Die daraus abgeleiteten digitalen Geländemodelle (DGM) sind von hoher Qualität, sogar in den komplexen Ökosystemen wie den heterogenen Waldbeständen Mitteleuropas. Allerdings wird die Genauigkeit eines DGMs zum einen durch Datengrundlage und Methoden, zum anderen durch standortbedingte Faktoren beeinflusst. Diese sind beispielsweise die räumliche Auflösung von LiDAR-Daten (Punktdichte), die Topographie (Hangneigung, Exposition) oder die Variabilität von Forsthabitaten. Darüber hinaus können Datenverarbeitungsschritte wie Filterung und Interpolation der Bodenpunkte zu Unterschieden in der DGM-Qualität führen. In dieser Studie wurden sechs DGMs verglichen, die aus zwei LiDAR-Datenquellen (hohe und niedrige Punktdichte) bestehen und mit drei Bodenfilteralgorithmen (Interpolation und adaptives TIN mit und ohne Spiegelpunkte) bearbeitet wurden. Die Genauigkeiten der DGMs wurden in Abhängigkeit von Topographiemerkmalen und Forsthabitattypen am Beispiel heterogener Waldgebiete des Nationalparks Bayerischer Wald untersucht. Die qualitative Analyse wurde mit Hilfe von 8300 voneinander unabhängigen Differenziellen GPS-Messungen durchgeführt. Die Einflussfaktoren auf den beobachteten Zufallsfehler wurden mit dem Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), der mittleren Abweichung (Bias). und zusätzlich mit einer Varianzanalyse ANOVA Typ II in einer Faktorenanalyse quantifiziert. Im Ergebnis wurden gelegentliche Über- und Unterschätzungen der Referenzhöhenwerte von maximal 1,98 m festgestellt. Die DGMs, welche aus hochpulsdichten LiDAR-Daten abgeleitet wurden, waren genauer als diejenigen, die aus Aufnahmen mit niedrigerer Pulsdichte stammten. Dabei wurde eine direkte Beziehung zwischen der Hangneigung und dem DGM-Fehler festgestellt. Die höchsten Fehlerraten wurden auf Hängen mit Süd-, Südwest-und West-Exposition beobachtet. Darüber hinaus waren im Vergleich zu anderen Lebensraumtypen die Laubbaumbestände mit höheren DGM-Fehlern assoziiert. Der adaptive TIN-Bodenfilter mit Spiegelpunkten sowie der interpolationsbasierte Algorithmus erzeugten vergleichsweise niedrigere Fehlerraten. Somit sind diese beiden Verfahren empfehlenswert, um LiDAR-basierte DGMs über heterogenen Waldökosystemen noch genauer abzuleiten.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the BFNP administration for providing LiDAR and field data used in this study. The RapidLasso GmbH provided a 3-month full licence for LiDAR data processing. The Bayerische Vermessungsverwaltung provided us with comprehensive information on flight and processing parameters for their DTM. The authors thank Prof. Florian Hartig for his support in terms of ANOVA type II analysis. In addition, we acknowledge the support of the Data Pool Initiative for the Bohemian Forest Ecosystem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Research and Survey, P.O. Box: 3339, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Raja Ram Aryal

  2. Department of Remote Sensing in Cooperation with German Aerospace Center (DLR), University of Würzburg, Oswald-Külpe-Weg 86, 97074, Würzburg, Germany

    Hooman Latifi

  3. Department of Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, 94481, Grafenau, Germany

    Marco Heurich

  4. Laboratory for Engineering Measurement Techniques, Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart, Schillingstr. 24, 70174, Stuttgart, Germany

    Michael Hahn

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  1. Raja Ram Aryal
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  2. Hooman Latifi
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  3. Marco Heurich
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Correspondence to Raja Ram Aryal or Hooman Latifi.

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Aryal, R.R., Latifi, H., Heurich, M. et al. Impact of Slope, Aspect, and Habitat-Type on LiDAR-Derived Digital Terrain Models in a Near Natural, Heterogeneous Temperate Forest. PFG 85, 243–255 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41064-017-0023-2

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Keywords

  • LiDAR
  • DTM
  • Ground filtering
  • Topography
  • Forest habitat types
  • Factorial analysis

Schlüsselwörter

  • LiDAR
  • DGM
  • Bodenfilterung
  • Topographie
  • Forsthabitat
  • Faktorenanalyse