Efficient field data collection of tropical forest using terrestrial laser scanner

Various remote sensing technologies are utilized to monitor tropical forest for REDD project. In developing countries, the accuracy of field measurement does not satisfy the quality required for the validation of satellite remotely sensed data. Therefore, we introduce the most portable laser sensor, SICK LMS511, to measure trees in the field of tropical forest and the semi-automatic process to derive tree parameters from the 3D point cloud is established to provide accurate forest inventory data. From the accuracy assessment of the portable laser system provided 3.61 cm of root mean square error (RMSE) of stem diameter and 0.50 m of RMSE of tree height measurement. The portable terrestrial laser sensor can be the standard technique to create forest inventory data for the field validation of satellite remote sensing.