Voronoi diagrams, extended area stealing interpolation and tree crown recognition: A fuzzy approach

In this paper we describe an application of Gold's and Lowell's work to the case of individual tree crown characterization in a deciduous/mixed cover. It represents the first state of a research agenda that ultimately aims to define a highly adaptive interpolation approach in order to improve the ma nagement of differential uncertainty of multi-source data and the fuzzyness of spatial variability that characterizes the natural structure of deciduo us/mixed cover types. Our primary objectives are to evaluate the utility of the theft interpolation method in combination with fuzzy logic rules to qu antify and characterize the spatial extent of individual crowns and to illu strate the potential of extensions to the theft method that accommodates th e presence of holes in the canopy, notably gaps and interstices.