Can tree cover extent be estimated directly from ICESat-2 spaceborne lidar data?
We performed the estimation at two boreal forest areas in Finland, Valtimo and Pello, using two methods: post-classification and logistic regression estimation. In post-classification, dominant height and canopy cover were estimated first, and areas where dominant height was (≥ 5 m) and canopy cover...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569843225003395 |
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| author | Hanna Haapala Petri Varvia Ranjith Gopalakrishnan Lauri Korhonen |
| author_facet | Hanna Haapala Petri Varvia Ranjith Gopalakrishnan Lauri Korhonen |
| author_sort | Hanna Haapala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We performed the estimation at two boreal forest areas in Finland, Valtimo and Pello, using two methods: post-classification and logistic regression estimation. In post-classification, dominant height and canopy cover were estimated first, and areas where dominant height was (≥ 5 m) and canopy cover (≥ 10%) were considered forested. In the second method, logistic regression was used to determine the areas with tree cover using ICESat-2 variables as predictors. The reference values were obtained using airborne laser scanning data and locally measured field plots. The transferability of the ICESat-2 models was also assessed.Our results indicated that ICESat-2 data are suitable for the estimation of tree cover extent over large areas. The overall accuracy ranged from 92% to 95% both for post-classification and logistic regression, depending on the study area. Although the performance of the two classification methods was similar, the classification accuracies were generally lower in Pello. The ICESat-2 models for dominant height and canopy cover had RMSE% values of 21.1–24.5% and 24.9–36.8%, respectively. We conclude that ICESat-2 data appear promising for estimation of accurate statistics on tree cover extent in the boreal biome. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fbf4ea7e868143f7944d34dffb51f8bc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1569-8432 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation |
| spelling | doaj-art-fbf4ea7e868143f7944d34dffb51f8bc2025-08-20T04:00:27ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation1569-84322025-08-0114210469210.1016/j.jag.2025.104692Can tree cover extent be estimated directly from ICESat-2 spaceborne lidar data?Hanna Haapala0Petri Varvia1Ranjith Gopalakrishnan2Lauri Korhonen3Corresponding author.; School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, Joensuu, FI-80101, FinlandSchool of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, Joensuu, FI-80101, FinlandSchool of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, Joensuu, FI-80101, FinlandSchool of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, Joensuu, FI-80101, FinlandWe performed the estimation at two boreal forest areas in Finland, Valtimo and Pello, using two methods: post-classification and logistic regression estimation. In post-classification, dominant height and canopy cover were estimated first, and areas where dominant height was (≥ 5 m) and canopy cover (≥ 10%) were considered forested. In the second method, logistic regression was used to determine the areas with tree cover using ICESat-2 variables as predictors. The reference values were obtained using airborne laser scanning data and locally measured field plots. The transferability of the ICESat-2 models was also assessed.Our results indicated that ICESat-2 data are suitable for the estimation of tree cover extent over large areas. The overall accuracy ranged from 92% to 95% both for post-classification and logistic regression, depending on the study area. Although the performance of the two classification methods was similar, the classification accuracies were generally lower in Pello. The ICESat-2 models for dominant height and canopy cover had RMSE% values of 21.1–24.5% and 24.9–36.8%, respectively. We conclude that ICESat-2 data appear promising for estimation of accurate statistics on tree cover extent in the boreal biome.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569843225003395Land coverForest areaProfiling lidarTreeline migrationCrown coverForest definition |
| spellingShingle | Hanna Haapala Petri Varvia Ranjith Gopalakrishnan Lauri Korhonen Can tree cover extent be estimated directly from ICESat-2 spaceborne lidar data? International Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation Land cover Forest area Profiling lidar Treeline migration Crown cover Forest definition |
| title | Can tree cover extent be estimated directly from ICESat-2 spaceborne lidar data? |
| title_full | Can tree cover extent be estimated directly from ICESat-2 spaceborne lidar data? |
| title_fullStr | Can tree cover extent be estimated directly from ICESat-2 spaceborne lidar data? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can tree cover extent be estimated directly from ICESat-2 spaceborne lidar data? |
| title_short | Can tree cover extent be estimated directly from ICESat-2 spaceborne lidar data? |
| title_sort | can tree cover extent be estimated directly from icesat 2 spaceborne lidar data |
| topic | Land cover Forest area Profiling lidar Treeline migration Crown cover Forest definition |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569843225003395 |
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