Potential stereoscopic tree height measurement of teak plantations using Pleiades high-resolution satellite imagery

摘要

There is a broad demand for technical development of methodologies for large-scale monitoring of tree plantations. Stereoscopic tree height measurement using optical high resolution satellite imagery is one of the potential means. In this study, the potential of dominant tree height estimation was examined in teak plantations located in the agricultural land mosaics of the northeast Thailand. Terrains were modeled based on the surface measurements surrounding teak plantations. Tree height was estimated as the difference between the tree top position and the estimated terrain. The result was evaluated based on the comparison with the field surveyed dominant tree height. There was a correlation between the estimated and the field-surveyed dominant tree heights. The root-mean-square error was under 2 m. The result clarified the potential of stereoscopic tree height measurement using stereo-paired high resolution satellite imagery targeting on small-scale teak plantation established in the moderate terrain area. Large deviations of dominant tree estimation (< 4 m) were mainly caused by the deviations of terrain modeling. The accuracy of terrain modeling also caused the underestimation and/or the overestimation of dominant tree height at some cases.