Individual Tree Species Identification Using Laser Altimetry Intensity in Mixed Conifer Forests of Western Montana

This research project is to build upon current methods to identify species at the individual tree level, and to move beyond, using intensity only as a stand-level predictor and for matching aerial imagery to laser scanner data. This study will address a critical knowledge gap, and the benefits of tree-scale species data across large landscapes are self-evident with the primary goals of this study are: (1) To develop a methodology for identifying species of individual trees in mixed conifer forests using laser intensity data, and (2) To map the spatial distribution of species at Lubrecht Experimental Forest within the constraints of the identification methodology.

 Principal Investigator: Agus Suratno