The Aboveground Biomass Estimation of the Grain for Green Program Stands Using UAV-LiDAR and Sentinel-2 Data

Aboveground biomass (AGB) serves as a crucial indicator of the effectiveness of the Grain for Green Program (GGP), and its accurate estimation is essential for evaluating forest health and carbon sink capacity. However, due to the dominance of sparse forests in GGP stands, research in this area rema...

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Main Authors: Gaoke Yueliang, Gentana Ge, Xiaosong Li, Cuicui Ji, Tiancan Wang, Tong Shen, Yubo Zhi, Chaochao Chen, Licheng Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Sensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/9/2707
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author Gaoke Yueliang
Gentana Ge
Xiaosong Li
Cuicui Ji
Tiancan Wang
Tong Shen
Yubo Zhi
Chaochao Chen
Licheng Zhao
author_facet Gaoke Yueliang
Gentana Ge
Xiaosong Li
Cuicui Ji
Tiancan Wang
Tong Shen
Yubo Zhi
Chaochao Chen
Licheng Zhao
author_sort Gaoke Yueliang
collection DOAJ
description Aboveground biomass (AGB) serves as a crucial indicator of the effectiveness of the Grain for Green Program (GGP), and its accurate estimation is essential for evaluating forest health and carbon sink capacity. However, due to the dominance of sparse forests in GGP stands, research in this area remains significantly limited. In this study, we developed the optimal tree height-diameter at breast height (DBH) growth models for major tree species and constructed a high-quality AGB sample dataset by integrating airborne LiDAR data and tree species information. Then, the AGB of the GGP stands was estimated using the Sentinel-2 data and the gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) algorithm. The results showed that the AGB sample dataset constructed using the proposed approach exhibited strong consistency with field-measured data (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.89). The GBDT-based AGB estimation model shows high accuracy, with an R<sup>2</sup> of 0.96 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 560 g/m<sup>2</sup>. Key variables such as tasseled cap greenness (TCG), red-edge normalized difference vegetation index (RENDVI), and visible-band difference vegetation index (VDVI) were identified as highly important. This highlights that vegetation indices and tasseled cap transformation index information are key factors in estimating AGB. The AGB of major tree species in the new round of the GGP stands in Inner Mongolia ranged from 120 to 9253 g/m<sup>2</sup>, with mean values of 978 g/m<sup>2</sup> for poplar, 622 g/m<sup>2</sup> for Mongolian Scots pine, and 313 g/m<sup>2</sup> for Chinese red pine species. This study offers a practical method for AGB estimation in GGP stands, contributing significantly to sustainable forest management and ecological conservation efforts.
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spelling doaj-art-63ac4fb008594ec4ab1eaa780b6e2a7d2025-08-20T02:58:44ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-04-01259270710.3390/s25092707The Aboveground Biomass Estimation of the Grain for Green Program Stands Using UAV-LiDAR and Sentinel-2 DataGaoke Yueliang0Gentana Ge1Xiaosong Li2Cuicui Ji3Tiancan Wang4Tong Shen5Yubo Zhi6Chaochao Chen7Licheng Zhao8School of Smart City, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, ChinaForestry and Grassland Work Station of Inner Mongolia, Hohhot 010010, ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaSchool of Smart City, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaAboveground biomass (AGB) serves as a crucial indicator of the effectiveness of the Grain for Green Program (GGP), and its accurate estimation is essential for evaluating forest health and carbon sink capacity. However, due to the dominance of sparse forests in GGP stands, research in this area remains significantly limited. In this study, we developed the optimal tree height-diameter at breast height (DBH) growth models for major tree species and constructed a high-quality AGB sample dataset by integrating airborne LiDAR data and tree species information. Then, the AGB of the GGP stands was estimated using the Sentinel-2 data and the gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) algorithm. The results showed that the AGB sample dataset constructed using the proposed approach exhibited strong consistency with field-measured data (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.89). The GBDT-based AGB estimation model shows high accuracy, with an R<sup>2</sup> of 0.96 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 560 g/m<sup>2</sup>. Key variables such as tasseled cap greenness (TCG), red-edge normalized difference vegetation index (RENDVI), and visible-band difference vegetation index (VDVI) were identified as highly important. This highlights that vegetation indices and tasseled cap transformation index information are key factors in estimating AGB. The AGB of major tree species in the new round of the GGP stands in Inner Mongolia ranged from 120 to 9253 g/m<sup>2</sup>, with mean values of 978 g/m<sup>2</sup> for poplar, 622 g/m<sup>2</sup> for Mongolian Scots pine, and 313 g/m<sup>2</sup> for Chinese red pine species. This study offers a practical method for AGB estimation in GGP stands, contributing significantly to sustainable forest management and ecological conservation efforts.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/9/2707aboveground biomassUAV-LiDARgrain for green in Inner Mongoliasustainable forest management
spellingShingle Gaoke Yueliang
Gentana Ge
Xiaosong Li
Cuicui Ji
Tiancan Wang
Tong Shen
Yubo Zhi
Chaochao Chen
Licheng Zhao
The Aboveground Biomass Estimation of the Grain for Green Program Stands Using UAV-LiDAR and Sentinel-2 Data
Sensors
aboveground biomass
UAV-LiDAR
grain for green in Inner Mongolia
sustainable forest management
title The Aboveground Biomass Estimation of the Grain for Green Program Stands Using UAV-LiDAR and Sentinel-2 Data
title_full The Aboveground Biomass Estimation of the Grain for Green Program Stands Using UAV-LiDAR and Sentinel-2 Data
title_fullStr The Aboveground Biomass Estimation of the Grain for Green Program Stands Using UAV-LiDAR and Sentinel-2 Data
title_full_unstemmed The Aboveground Biomass Estimation of the Grain for Green Program Stands Using UAV-LiDAR and Sentinel-2 Data
title_short The Aboveground Biomass Estimation of the Grain for Green Program Stands Using UAV-LiDAR and Sentinel-2 Data
title_sort aboveground biomass estimation of the grain for green program stands using uav lidar and sentinel 2 data
topic aboveground biomass
UAV-LiDAR
grain for green in Inner Mongolia
sustainable forest management
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/9/2707
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