IDENTIFYING VEGETATION ATTRIBUTES USING LIDAR DATA

摘要

A method of operating a computer system to process LiDAR data to allocate LiDAR data points to individual items of vegetation and a system for processing LiDAR data to identify the location of individual items of vegetation are disclosed. The system comprises a collection component operative to identify coordinate positions that generate return signals in response to being contacted with a laser pulse; a pre-processing component for translating LiDAR data obtained by the collection component into a standardized format; and a crown identification component operative to identify the location of individual items of vegetation from LiDAR data obtained by the collection component. Identifying the location of individual items of vegetation, includes sequentially selecting coordinate positions represented in the LiDAR data based on height; allocating the selected coordinate positions to individual items of vegetation using digital crown umbrellas to map the geographic area where the items of vegetation are located; and determining if a coordinate position is within the geographic area allocated to an item of vegetation and if so, defining a digital branch umbrella that may expand the geographic area allocated to the to the item of vegetation.