Estimation of Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and Biomass from Allometric Models Using LiDAR Data: A Case of the Lake Broadwater Forest in Southeast Queensland, Australia
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) provides three-dimensional information that can be used to extract tree parameter measurements such as height (H), canopy volume (CV), canopy diameter (CD), canopy area (CA), and tree stand density. LiDAR data does not directly give diameter at breast height (DBH)...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Remote Sensing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/14/2523 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849732939089182720 |
|---|---|
| author | Zibonele Mhlaba Bhebhe Xiaoye Liu Zhenyu Zhang Dev Raj Paudyal |
| author_facet | Zibonele Mhlaba Bhebhe Xiaoye Liu Zhenyu Zhang Dev Raj Paudyal |
| author_sort | Zibonele Mhlaba Bhebhe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) provides three-dimensional information that can be used to extract tree parameter measurements such as height (H), canopy volume (CV), canopy diameter (CD), canopy area (CA), and tree stand density. LiDAR data does not directly give diameter at breast height (DBH), an important input into allometric equations to estimate biomass. The main objective of this study is to estimate tree DBH using existing allometric models. Specifically, it compares three global DBH pantropical models to calculate DBH and to estimate the aboveground biomass (AGB) of the Lake Broadwater Forest located in Southeast (SE) Queensland, Australia. LiDAR data collected in mid-2022 was used to test these models, with field validation data collected at the beginning of 2024. The three DBH estimation models—the Jucker model, Gonzalez-Benecke model 1, and Gonzalez-Benecke model 2—all used tree H, and the Jucker and Gonzalez-Benecke model 2 additionally used CD and CA, respectively. Model performance was assessed using five statistical metrics: root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), percentage bias (MBias), and the coefficient of determination (R<sup data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">2</sup>). The Jucker model was the best-performing model, followed by Gonzalez-Benecke model 2 and Gonzalez-Benecke model 1. The Jucker model had an RMSE of 8.7 cm, an MAE of −13.54 cm, an MAPE of 7%, an MBias of 13.73 cm, and an R<sup data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">2</sup> of 0.9005. The Chave AGB model was used to estimate the AGB at the tree, plot, and per hectare levels using the Jucker model-calculated DBH and the field-measured DBH. AGB was used to estimate total biomass, dry weight, carbon (C), and carbon dioxide (CO<sub data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">2</sub>) sequestered per hectare. The Lake Broadwater Forest was estimated to have an AGB of 161.5 Mg/ha in 2022, a Total C of 65.6 Mg/ha, and a CO<sub data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">2</sub> sequestered of 240.7 Mg/ha in 2022. These findings highlight the substantial carbon storage potential of the Lake Broadwater Forest, reinforcing the opportunity for landholders to participate in the carbon credit systems, which offer financial benefits and enable contributions to carbon mitigation programs, thereby helping to meet national and global carbon reduction targets. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7f5bfcec3de146dfa20d4766a1af22e7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj-art-7f5bfcec3de146dfa20d4766a1af22e72025-08-20T03:08:10ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-07-011714252310.3390/rs17142523Estimation of Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and Biomass from Allometric Models Using LiDAR Data: A Case of the Lake Broadwater Forest in Southeast Queensland, AustraliaZibonele Mhlaba Bhebhe0Xiaoye Liu1Zhenyu Zhang2Dev Raj Paudyal3School of Surveying and Built Environment, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, AustraliaSchool of Surveying and Built Environment, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, AustraliaSchool of Surveying and Built Environment, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, AustraliaSchool of Surveying and Built Environment, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, QLD 4300, AustraliaLight Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) provides three-dimensional information that can be used to extract tree parameter measurements such as height (H), canopy volume (CV), canopy diameter (CD), canopy area (CA), and tree stand density. LiDAR data does not directly give diameter at breast height (DBH), an important input into allometric equations to estimate biomass. The main objective of this study is to estimate tree DBH using existing allometric models. Specifically, it compares three global DBH pantropical models to calculate DBH and to estimate the aboveground biomass (AGB) of the Lake Broadwater Forest located in Southeast (SE) Queensland, Australia. LiDAR data collected in mid-2022 was used to test these models, with field validation data collected at the beginning of 2024. The three DBH estimation models—the Jucker model, Gonzalez-Benecke model 1, and Gonzalez-Benecke model 2—all used tree H, and the Jucker and Gonzalez-Benecke model 2 additionally used CD and CA, respectively. Model performance was assessed using five statistical metrics: root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), percentage bias (MBias), and the coefficient of determination (R<sup data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">2</sup>). The Jucker model was the best-performing model, followed by Gonzalez-Benecke model 2 and Gonzalez-Benecke model 1. The Jucker model had an RMSE of 8.7 cm, an MAE of −13.54 cm, an MAPE of 7%, an MBias of 13.73 cm, and an R<sup data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">2</sup> of 0.9005. The Chave AGB model was used to estimate the AGB at the tree, plot, and per hectare levels using the Jucker model-calculated DBH and the field-measured DBH. AGB was used to estimate total biomass, dry weight, carbon (C), and carbon dioxide (CO<sub data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">2</sub>) sequestered per hectare. The Lake Broadwater Forest was estimated to have an AGB of 161.5 Mg/ha in 2022, a Total C of 65.6 Mg/ha, and a CO<sub data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">2</sub> sequestered of 240.7 Mg/ha in 2022. These findings highlight the substantial carbon storage potential of the Lake Broadwater Forest, reinforcing the opportunity for landholders to participate in the carbon credit systems, which offer financial benefits and enable contributions to carbon mitigation programs, thereby helping to meet national and global carbon reduction targets.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/14/2523above-ground biomass (ABG)LiDARdigital elevation model (DEM)digital surface model (DSM)digital canopy model (DCM)diameter at breast height (DBH) |
| spellingShingle | Zibonele Mhlaba Bhebhe Xiaoye Liu Zhenyu Zhang Dev Raj Paudyal Estimation of Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and Biomass from Allometric Models Using LiDAR Data: A Case of the Lake Broadwater Forest in Southeast Queensland, Australia Remote Sensing above-ground biomass (ABG) LiDAR digital elevation model (DEM) digital surface model (DSM) digital canopy model (DCM) diameter at breast height (DBH) |
| title | Estimation of Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and Biomass from Allometric Models Using LiDAR Data: A Case of the Lake Broadwater Forest in Southeast Queensland, Australia |
| title_full | Estimation of Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and Biomass from Allometric Models Using LiDAR Data: A Case of the Lake Broadwater Forest in Southeast Queensland, Australia |
| title_fullStr | Estimation of Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and Biomass from Allometric Models Using LiDAR Data: A Case of the Lake Broadwater Forest in Southeast Queensland, Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Estimation of Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and Biomass from Allometric Models Using LiDAR Data: A Case of the Lake Broadwater Forest in Southeast Queensland, Australia |
| title_short | Estimation of Tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and Biomass from Allometric Models Using LiDAR Data: A Case of the Lake Broadwater Forest in Southeast Queensland, Australia |
| title_sort | estimation of tree diameter at breast height dbh and biomass from allometric models using lidar data a case of the lake broadwater forest in southeast queensland australia |
| topic | above-ground biomass (ABG) LiDAR digital elevation model (DEM) digital surface model (DSM) digital canopy model (DCM) diameter at breast height (DBH) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/14/2523 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zibonelemhlababhebhe estimationoftreediameteratbreastheightdbhandbiomassfromallometricmodelsusinglidardataacaseofthelakebroadwaterforestinsoutheastqueenslandaustralia AT xiaoyeliu estimationoftreediameteratbreastheightdbhandbiomassfromallometricmodelsusinglidardataacaseofthelakebroadwaterforestinsoutheastqueenslandaustralia AT zhenyuzhang estimationoftreediameteratbreastheightdbhandbiomassfromallometricmodelsusinglidardataacaseofthelakebroadwaterforestinsoutheastqueenslandaustralia AT devrajpaudyal estimationoftreediameteratbreastheightdbhandbiomassfromallometricmodelsusinglidardataacaseofthelakebroadwaterforestinsoutheastqueenslandaustralia |