Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is one of the most promising technologies in forestry
which shows potential for timely and accurate measurements of forest biophysical properties over time.This study explores several regression models relating variables derived from airborne laser scanner for the estimation of various forest metrics
and discusses the results of prediction concluding accuracy.These prediction models use 78 plots with radius of 7.5 m or 15 m in Kunming
Yunnan province
China.Two series of variables are provided from the airborne laser scanner data
one is canopy height and to the other canopy density.These variables are used as independent variables in the regressions.The stepwise regression analysis has been used to select various independent variables.The results show high correlation between forest metrics and variables derived from airborne laser scanner.For the three different forest types (coniferous
broad-leaf and mixed)
all the prediction of mean heights are accurate.However
for the predictions of above ground biomass
the result of coniferous is better than broad-leaf
while there is no significant correlation between the biomass of mixed and the laser variables.Finally
the results of regression and factors affect the accuracy of prediction are discussed.The accuracy of prediction may be relate to the forest type
sampling time and density of laser scanning and position errors.