Module 1 Summary

This module provides an introduction to full waveform lidar for terrestrial applications, with a specific focus on data from NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission.

Participants first learn the fundamental principles of lidar remote sensing, including the differences between active and passive sensors and how lidar measures key biophysical parameters like canopy height and vertical vegetation structure.

The session then details how to interpret GEDI’s full waveform data, which captures the complete energy profile of the laser return to provide a third dimensional view of a forest’s vertical structure.

A central part of this training is understanding and applying GEDI’s Relative Height (RH) metrics, which are used to map canopy height and differentiate between various land use types.

Finally, the training covers the limitations of spaceborne lidar and includes practical exercises on how to find, filter, and visualize GEDI data to analyze vegetation.

References

Cooley, S. S., Pinto, N., Becerra, M., Alvarado, J. W. V., Fahlen, J. C., Rivera, O., Fricker, G. A., Dantas, A. R. D. L. R., Aguilar-Amuchastegui, N., Reygadas, Y., Gan, J., DeFries, R., & Menge, D. N. L. (2024). Combining spaceborne lidar from the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation with local knowledge for monitoring fragmented tropical landscapes: A case study in the forest–agriculture interface of Ucayali, Peru. Ecology and Evolution, 14, e70116. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70116

Doyog, N. D., & Lin, C. (2024). Generating Wall-to-Wall Canopy Height Information from Discrete Data Provided by Spaceborne LiDAR System. Forests, 15(3), 482.

Dubayah, R., Blair, J. B., Goetz, S., Fatoyinbo, L., Hansen, M., Healey, S., Hofton, M., Hurtt, G., Kellner, J., Luthcke, S., Armston, J., Tang, H., Duncanson, L., Hancock, S., Jantz, P., Marselis, S., Patterson, P. L., Qi, W., & Silva, C. (2020). The global ecosystem dynamics investigation: High-resolution laser ranging of the Earth’s forests and topography. Science of Remote Sensing, 1, 100002.

Kellner, J. R., Armston, J., & Duncanson, L. (2021). Algorithm theoretical basis document (ATBD) for GEDI level-4A (L4A) footprint level aboveground biomass density. University of Maryland.

Potapov, P., Li, X., Hernandez-Serna, A., Tyukavina, A., Hansen, M. C., Kommareddy, A., Pickens, A., Turubanova, S., Tang, H., Silva, C. E., Armston, J., Dubayah, R., Blair, J. B., & Hofton, M. (2021). Mapping global forest canopy height through integration of GEDI and Landsat data. Remote Sensing of Environment, 253, 112165.

Wulder, M. A., White, J. C., Nelson, R. F., Næsset, E., Ørka, H. O., Coops, N. C., Hilker, T., Bater, C. W., & Gobakken, T. (2012). Lidar sampling for large-area forest characterization: A review. Remote Sensing of Environment, 121, 196-209.