Practical Applications with GEDI Full Waveform Data
Tutorial Objectives:
Exercise 1 Objectives
- Access GEDI L1B data using NASA Earthdata APIs
- Use quality assurance (QA) flags to ensure high data quality
- Plot waveforms for an area of interest
- Interpret the waveform shape and identify the ground return (ground elevation)
Exercise 2 Objectives
- Access GEDI data from a public repository (e.g., NASA Earthdata Search)
- Download GEDI L2A data for an area of interest
- Make histograms of RH metrics
- Plot cumulative energy profiles from RH metrics and compute RH ratios
Tutorial Overview
In order to review several fundamentals of lidar remote sensing and full waveform lidar:
- Exercise 1 provides scripted tools for working with GEDI L1B geolocated waveform data to analyze forest structure and vegetation characteristics for a student-defined area of interest.
- Exercise 2 works with GEDI L2A relative height (RH) metrics and calculating RH ratios.
How do these tutorials differ from the existing tools out there?
The tutorials differentiate themselves from existing tools by offering an integrated, end-to-end GEDI data workflow, from automated data discovery to interactive analysis and visualization, all within a single environment. The primary benefit is the streamlined and accessible approach to handling GEDI Level 1B data, which can be complex to work with due to its data format and waveform interpretation complexity.
The application and purpose of these tutorials are to provide researchers with a practical, hands-on tool for exploring and analyzing full-waveform lidar data, filling a critical gap by lowering the barrier to entry for researchers who may not be lidar specialists. This allows for more focused scientific interpretation rather than getting bogged down in data processing and management.
Looking ahead, there are numerous exciting opportunities to expand on these tutorials:
Downstream Applications
The processed waveform data could be used for more advanced applications like forest canopy structure analysis and habitat modeling. The extracted elevation and waveform characteristics could also be integrated with other remote sensing data (e.g., optical or radar) for data fusion and more comprehensive environmental analysis.
Stakeholders, End-Users, and Decision-Makers
Potential stakeholders beyond academic researchers could include environmental consulting firms, government agencies (like the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management), and conservation organizations. These groups could use the tools for tasks like deforestation tracking and biodiversity assessment.
README
Walk through the README which includes detailed setup instructions and background of the tutorial.