Lidar remote sensing for forestry

Lidar remote sensing, which directly measures vertical forest structure, is a breakthrough technology with many forestry applications. Using the laser light equivalent of radar, lidar instruments accurately estimate such impo rtant forest structural characteristics as canopy heights, stand volume, ba sal area, and above-ground biomass. And because subcanopy vegetation height is a function of species composition, climate, and site quality, the resul ts can be used for land cover classification, habitat mapping, and forest w ildlife management.