PROSPECTS FOR USING THE „LIDAR_DR_LT“, GROUND SURFACE LASER SCANNING SATA SET IN THE STATE FOREST ENTERPRISE AND THE FACTORS INFLUENCING IT

Abstract

Remote sensing is increasingly being used in forestry to obtain various parameters. The State Forest Enterprise (liet. VĮ Valstybinė miškų urėdija) conducts forest stand volume calculations by using remote sensing methods, utilizing specific forest stand measurements, the "Lidar_DR_LT" ground surface laser scanning dataset provided by the National Land Service under the Ministry of Agriculture, and the "Random Forest" algorithm. The aim of this study is to assess the potential and influencing factors of using the mentioned dataset in forest plot inventories by comparing and analyzing parameters obtained through remote sensing methods with the data from the 2023-2024 field-based forest inventory.

The study results indicate that the accuracy and applicability of the obtained indicators can be significantly influenced by forest stand parameters such as age, dominant tree species, density, and stratification. This method of calculating forest stand parameters could be a potential tool, however, a broader study is needed to determine whether it can be used to support traditional forest inventory or even partially replace it. This dataset and its continuous updating may allow the consistent and continuous updating of forest stand parameters on a large scale.