Table Of ContentLiDAR Remote Sensing
and Applications
Remote Sensing Applications
Series Editor
Qihao Weng
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.A.
LiDAR Remote Sensing and Applications, Pinliang Dong, Qi Chen
Urban Remote Sensing, Second Edition, edited by Qihao Weng, Dale Quattrochi, and
Paolo E. Gamba
Hyperspectral Remote Sensing: Fundamentals and Practices, Ruiliang Pu
Integrating Scale in Remote Sensing and GIS, Dale A. Quattrochi, Elizabeth A. Wentz,
Nina Siu-Ngan Lam, and Charles W. Emerson
Remote Sensing for Sustainability, Qihao Weng
Remote Sensing Applications for the Urban Environment, George Z. Xian
Remote Sensing of Impervious Surfaces in Tropical and Subtropical Areas,
Hui Lin, Yuanzhi Zhang, and Qihao Weng
Global Urban Monitoring and Assessment through Earth Observation,
edited by Qihao Weng
Remote Sensing of Natural Resources, edited by Guangxing Wang and Qihao Weng
Remote Sensing of Land Use and Land Cover: Principles and Applications,
Chandra P. Giri
Remote Sensing of Protected Lands, edited by Yeqiao Wang
Advances in Environmental Remote Sensing: Sensors, Algorithms, and
Applications, edited by Qihao Weng
Remote Sensing of Coastal Environments, edited by Yeqiao Wang
Remote Sensing of Global Croplands for Food Security,
edited by Prasad S. Thenkabail, John G. Lyon, Hugh Turral, and Chandashekhar M. Biradar
Global Mapping of Human Settlement: Experiences, Data Sets, and Prospects,
edited by Paolo Gamba and Martin Herold
Hyperspectral Remote Sensing: Principles and Applications, Marcus Borengasser,
William S. Hungate, and Russell Watkins
Remote Sensing of Impervious Surfaces, edited by Qihao Weng
Multispectral Image Analysis Using the Object-Oriented Paradigm, Kumar Navulur
Remote Sensing Applications
Series Editor LiDAR Remote Sensing
Qihao Weng
Indiana State University and Applications
Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.A.
LiDAR Remote Sensing and Applications, Pinliang Dong, Qi Chen
Urban Remote Sensing, Second Edition, edited by Qihao Weng, Dale Quattrochi, and
Paolo E. Gamba
Hyperspectral Remote Sensing: Fundamentals and Practices, Ruiliang Pu
Integrating Scale in Remote Sensing and GIS, Dale A. Quattrochi, Elizabeth A. Wentz,
Nina Siu-Ngan Lam, and Charles W. Emerson
Remote Sensing for Sustainability, Qihao Weng
Remote Sensing Applications for the Urban Environment, George Z. Xian
Remote Sensing of Impervious Surfaces in Tropical and Subtropical Areas, Pinliang Dong and Qi Chen
Hui Lin, Yuanzhi Zhang, and Qihao Weng
Global Urban Monitoring and Assessment through Earth Observation,
edited by Qihao Weng
Remote Sensing of Natural Resources, edited by Guangxing Wang and Qihao Weng
Remote Sensing of Land Use and Land Cover: Principles and Applications,
Chandra P. Giri
Remote Sensing of Protected Lands, edited by Yeqiao Wang
Advances in Environmental Remote Sensing: Sensors, Algorithms, and
Applications, edited by Qihao Weng
Remote Sensing of Coastal Environments, edited by Yeqiao Wang
Remote Sensing of Global Croplands for Food Security,
edited by Prasad S. Thenkabail, John G. Lyon, Hugh Turral, and Chandashekhar M. Biradar
Global Mapping of Human Settlement: Experiences, Data Sets, and Prospects,
edited by Paolo Gamba and Martin Herold
Hyperspectral Remote Sensing: Principles and Applications, Marcus Borengasser,
William S. Hungate, and Russell Watkins
Remote Sensing of Impervious Surfaces, edited by Qihao Weng
Multispectral Image Analysis Using the Object-Oriented Paradigm, Kumar Navulur
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Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Names: Dong, Pinliang, author. | Chen, Qi (Geography professor), author.
Title: LiDAR remote sensing and applications / Pinliang Dong and Qi Chen.
Description: Boca Raton, FL : Taylor & Francis, 2018. | Includes
bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017035053 | ISBN 9781482243017 (hardback : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Remote sensing. | Geography--Remote sensing. | Forests and
forestry--Remote sensing. | Ecology--Remote sensing. | Optical radar.
Classification: LCC G70.4 .D66 2018 | DDC 621.36/78--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017035053
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
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and the CRC Press Web site at
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Contents
LiDAR Data Index Map ............................................................................................ix
Foreword ...................................................................................................................xi
Preface....................................................................................................................xiii
Authors .....................................................................................................................xv
List of Abbreviations..............................................................................................xvii
Chapter 1 Brief Overview of Remote Sensing ......................................................1
1.1 From Aerial Photography to Remote Sensing ...........................1
1.2 Multispectral Remote Sensing ...................................................3
1.3 Hyperspectral Remote Sensing .................................................4
1.4 Radar Remote Sensing ..............................................................7
1.5 LiDAR Remote Sensing ..........................................................10
References ..........................................................................................13
Chapter 2 Principles of LiDAR Remote Sensing ................................................19
2.1 Introduction .............................................................................19
2.2 Basic Components of LiDAR ..................................................19
2.3 Physical Principles of LiDAR .................................................19
2.4 LiDAR Accuracy .....................................................................22
2.5 LiDAR Data Formats ..............................................................22
2.6 LiDAR Systems .......................................................................26
2.7 LiDAR Resources ....................................................................26
Project 2.1: Review of Zonal Statistics for Raster Data in
ArcGIS .....................................................................27
Project 2.2: Creating an LAS Dataset Using LiDAR Point
Clouds from Fremont, CA, USA ................................31
Project 2.3: Exploring Airborne LiDAR Data ...............................35
References ..........................................................................................39
Chapter 3 Basics of LiDAR Data Processing .....................................................41
3.1 Introduction .............................................................................41
3.2 Filtering ...................................................................................43
3.2.1 TIN-Based Methods ...................................................43
3.2.2 Raster-Based Methods ................................................45
3.3 Classification of Non-ground Points ........................................46
3.4 Spatial Interpolation ................................................................46
Project 3.1: Creating DTM, DSM, and DHM from LiDAR
Data in Indianapolis, IN, USA ...................................49
v
vi Contents
Project 3.2: Generating a Terrain Dataset Using LiDAR Data
from St. Albans, VT, USA ..........................................54
References ..........................................................................................60
Chapter 4 LiDAR for Forest Applications ..........................................................63
4.1 Introduction .............................................................................63
4.2 Canopy Surface Height Modeling and Mapping .....................64
4.3 LiDAR Metrics for Vegetation Analysis .................................70
4.4 Individual Tree Isolation and Mapping ...................................72
4.4.1 Grid-Based Tree Mapping ..........................................72
4.4.2 Point-Based Tree Mapping .........................................77
4.4.3 Remaining Challenges in Tree Mapping....................78
4.4.4 Modeling and Predicting Individual Tree Attributes ....79
4.4.5 A Simulation Study for Tree Isolation ........................79
4.5 Area-Based Modeling and Mapping .......................................83
4.6 Modeling, Mapping, and Estimating Biomass ........................84
Project 4.1: Extracting Canopy Heights from Leaf-On and
Leaf-Off LiDAR Data in Susquehanna Shale
Hills, PA, USA ..........................................................91
Project 4.2: Identifying Disturbances from Hurricanes and
Lightning Strikes to Mangrove Forests Using
LiDAR Data in Everglades National Park, FL, USA ....95
References .......................................................................................105
Chapter 5 LiDAR for Urban Applications ........................................................111
5.1 Introduction ...........................................................................111
5.2 Road Extraction .....................................................................111
5.3 Building Extraction and 3D Reconstruction .........................114
5.4 Population Estimation ...........................................................117
5.5 Change Detection ..................................................................119
5.6 Assessment of Post-Disaster Building Damage ....................125
5.7 Assessment of Post-Disaster Road Blockage .........................127
Project 5.1: Locating 3D LiDAR Points Near a Powerline in
the City of Denton, TX, USA ...................................131
Project 5.2: Small-Area Population Estimation Using Count,
Area, and Volume of Residential Buildings
Extracted from LiDAR Data in Denton, TX, USA ....134
References ........................................................................................144
Chapter 6 LiDAR for Geoscience Applications ................................................151
6.1 Introduction ...........................................................................151
6.2 A eolian Landforms ................................................................151
6.3 F luvial Landforms .................................................................157
Contents vii
6.4 Surface Hydrology .................................................................158
6.5 Volcanic and Impact Landforms ...........................................160
6.6 Tectonic Landforms ...............................................................162
6.7 Lithology and Geologic Structures........................................169
Project 6.1: Measuring Sand Dune Migration Using
Multi-Temporal LiDAR Data in White Sands
Dune Field, NM, USA ..............................................173
Project 6.2: Deriving Trend Surfaces of Simple Folds Using
LiDAR Data in Raplee Ridge, UT, USA ..................182
References ........................................................................................190
Index ......................................................................................................................197
LiDAR Data Index Map
1. Manoa, Hawaii, p. xx 14. Meteor Crater, Arizona, p. xx
2. Mouna Loa, Hawaii, p. xx 15. Jemez River Basin, New Mexico, p. xx
3. Surrey, British Columbia (Canada), p. xx 16. White Sands Dune Field, New Mexico, p. xx
4. Parkdale, Oregon, p. xx 17. Denton, Texas, p. xx
5. Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, p. xx 18. Denton, Texas, p. xx
6. South Fork Eel River, California, p. xx 19. Denton, Texas, p. xx
7. Santa Cruz, California, p. xx 20. Harris County, Texas, p. xx
8. Fremont, California, p. xx 21. Indianapolis, Indiana, p. xx
9. Furnace Creek, California, p. xx 22. Petersburg, Pennsylvania, p. xx
10. Lunar Crater, Nevada, p. xx 23. St. Albans, Vermont, p. xx
11. San Andreas Fault, California, p. xx 24. Everglades National Park, Florida, p. xx
12. Death Valley, California, p. xx 25. Port-au-Prince (Haiti), p. xx
13. Raplee Ridge, Utah, p. xx 26. Santa Catarina (Brazil), p. xx
Note: A study area in Ghana for biomass estimation (p. xx) is not shown on this map.
ix
