In this whitepaper, we explore the innovative application of a hovering drone-mounted LiDAR system paired with a survey-grade satellite and inertial positioning system to measure wave transformation and runup in the surf zone. Unlike traditional methods, the multi-rotor small uncrewed aircraft system (sUAS) offers unobstructed measurements by hovering above the surf zone at a 20-meter elevation, scanning a 150-meter-wide cross-shore transect.

This approach allows rapid and precise data collection in remote locations where terrestrial scanning is challenging. Our study demonstrates that hovering drone-mounted LiDAR provides measurement accuracy almost equivalent to a stationary truck-mounted terrestrial LiDAR. By conducting observations in various surf conditions and validating with traditional land-based surveys and pressure sensors, we achieved a stable back beach topography estimate.

We also calculated statistical wave properties, runup values, and bathymetry inversions using a simple nonlinear correction to wave crest phase speed. This method shows the potential of drone-based LiDAR for accurate nearshore process observations, enabling data collection in previously inaccessible sites and providing valuable validation for coastal models.

This whitepaper delves into the innovative use of high-density LiDAR data and Quantitative Structure Modelling (QSM) to estimate individual tree attributes, traditionally predicted by field-derived allometric models. Leveraging LiDAR data collected by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), we evaluated the accuracy of QSM in determining key tree metrics such as diameter at breast height (dbh), tree height, volume, and aboveground biomass components (stem, branch, and total).

Our study compares two QSM approaches: integrating QSM-derived dbh and height into field-based equations for volume estimation, and deriving tree volume directly from QSM. Despite a slight overestimation tendency, the models demonstrated satisfactory performance, highlighting QSM’s potential to provide detailed and extensive tree attribute estimates.

This method offers a promising alternative for forest management decision-making, especially in analyzing tree architecture and biomass. The findings underscore the value of UAV-LiDAR and QSM in enhancing the precision and scope of forest attribute assessments.

This whitepaper presents a novel approach to forest inventory within integrated crop-livestock-forest systems using high-density UAV-LiDAR point clouds. Focusing on Eucalyptus benthamii seed forest plantations, we utilized the GatorEye UAV-LiDAR system to compare two forest inventory methods: Sampling Forest Inventory (SFI) with various plot arrangements and Individual Tree Detection (ITD).

By analyzing a point cloud with over 1400 points per square meter, we assessed basal area and volume estimates using both field and LiDAR-measured heights. We compared the number of trees, basal area, and volume per hectare across different scenarios, using statistical analysis to evaluate accuracy and equivalence. Our results show that the SFI approach with a 2300 m² area provides estimates comparable to the ITD method, with minimal error and improved processing efficiency.

This study offers valuable insights for selecting optimal plot sizes in forest inventories, enhancing precision in integrated crop-livestock-forest systems.

This whitepaper explores a groundbreaking framework for quantifying fuel load in fire-prone regions, focusing on the Brazilian tropical savanna (Cerrado biome), using NASA’s GEDI full-waveform spaceborne LiDAR sensor. Understanding fuel load is crucial for integrated fire management, preserving carbon stock, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning, and assessing global climate regulation. Traditional remote sensing methods lack the capability to measure vertical vegetation structure accurately.

Our study leverages UAV-collected LiDAR data to simulate GEDI full-waveforms, from which we derive vegetation structure metrics. These metrics are then correlated with field-measured fuel load components using Random Forest models. The resulting models, which predict woody and total fuel loads with high accuracy (R² = 0.88 and 0.71, respectively), provide reliable estimates even for lower strata components.

This innovative approach allows for the creation of fuel load maps for the entire Cerrado and can be extended to other fire-prone regions, enhancing fire management and carbon monitoring efforts. This research showcases the potential of spaceborne LiDAR to revolutionize environmental management and climate initiatives in tropical savannas and beyond.

In recent years, airborne laser scanning has revolutionized the documentation of historic cultural landscapes, extending its applications from natural landscapes to built environments. The integration of unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) with LiDAR systems is a transformative advancement, providing complementary data for precise mapping of targeted areas.

This whitepaper presents the findings from a 2019 study in the Maya Lowlands of Chiapas, Mexico, utilizing UAV LiDAR to capture and analyze data from six archaeologically significant areas. These areas, characterized by diverse environments, land cover, and archaeological features, were studied for their pre-Hispanic settlements and agrarian landscapes. The results confirm the immense potential of UAV LiDAR systems for high-precision archaeological mapping and underscore the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration.

The high-precision data acquired is invaluable for mapping archaeological features and understanding long-term land use and landscape changes in archaeological contexts.

The proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the past decade has been driven by advancements in structure-from-motion (SfM), machine learning, and robotics. A crucial application in forestry is individual tree detection (ITD), essential for calculating forest attributes like stem volume, forest uniformity, and biomass estimation.

This whitepaper addresses the challenges users face in adopting UAVs and algorithms for specific projects by providing a detailed tutorial for performing ITD. It covers the use of low-cost UAV-derived imagery and UAV-based high-density LiDAR, utilizing open-source R packages to develop a canopy height model (CHM) and implement the local maxima (LM) algorithm for ITD.

Accuracy assessments are derived through manual visual interpretation and field-data validation. Targeted at beginners in remote sensing, this guide employs a simple methodology and uses study plots with relatively open canopies. Supplementary materials include R codes and sample plot data to facilitate practical application.

This whitepaper explores the role of urban forest remnants in mitigating climate change by reducing carbon dioxide levels in urban areas. Specifically, it focuses on the potential of UAV-LiDAR systems to accurately measure individual tree heights in an Urban Atlantic Forest, using Araucaria angustifolia trees as a case study.

Through detailed analysis, the study assesses the impact of varying point densities (ranging from 2,500 to 5 returns per square meter) on the accuracy of tree height measurements. The findings reveal that higher point densities provide more precise tree profiles, while lower densities result in gaps in the Crown Height Model (CHM). The research highlights that the optimal point density for the highest agreement between UAV-LiDAR -derived and field-based tree heights is 100 returns per square meter, with the lowest relative root mean square error (rRMSE) observed at 50 returns per square meter.

This whitepaper underscores the effectiveness of UAV-LiDAR technology in urban forest management and its implications for developing policies to maintain essential ecosystem services.

This whitepaper delves into the pivotal role tropical savanna ecosystems play in the global carbon cycle, particularly focusing on the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado). It examines the uncertain capacity of these ecosystems to store and sequester carbon due to the intertwined effects of human activities and climate change. Utilizing high-density UAV-LiDAR technology, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the above ground biomass density (AGBt) across diverse vegetation formations in Cerrado, including forests, savannas, and grasslands.

The research highlights the development and validation of regression models to estimate AGBt, emphasizing the model that incorporates vegetation height and cover as the most effective, achieving an adjusted R2 of 0.79. This model was used to map AGBt over a vast area, demonstrating the feasibility and potential of UAV-LiDAR in accurately estimating biomass. Additionally, the study underscores the necessity for improved biomass estimation in grasslands to enhance the understanding of the global carbon balance and support integrated fire management.

The findings presented in this whitepaper provide critical insights and benchmarks for future research, aiming to generate precise biomass maps and inform effective carbon emission mitigation strategies in tropical savanna ecosystems.

This whitepaper investigates the innovative use of UAV-borne hyperspectral and LiDAR data to enhance our understanding of forest ecosystem restoration. Focusing on twelve 13-year-old restoration plots in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, the study evaluates the effectiveness of these technologies in assessing tree diversity and structure.

By combining LiDAR -derived structural attributes—such as canopy height and leaf area index (LAI)—with hyperspectral variables, the research demonstrates the complementary nature of these data sources. The findings reveal that while LiDAR -derived canopy height is a strong predictor of above ground biomass (AGB), the integration of hyperspectral and LiDAR data provides a comprehensive approach to monitoring forest structural attributes and tree diversity. The study supports biodiversity theory, showing that higher species richness enhances biomass capture and canopy functionality.

This whitepaper underscores the critical role UAV-borne remote sensors can play in large-scale forest monitoring, particularly in the context of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, by providing high-resolution data essential for effective decision-making in restoration projects.