INDIVIDUAL TREE ABOVEGROUND CARBON STOCK ESTIMATION USING TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING (TLS)

Abstract

Methods for estimating aboveground biomass and carbon stock have been driven by advancements in remote sensing technology. This study is to assess the capability of Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) in measuring individual trees to determine aboveground biomass and carbon stock. The method relies on allometric equations that have been improved by previous studies for urban trees with various species. A non-destructive laser-based approach for estimating aboveground biomass was introduced. Biomass for each tree was obtained using Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and compared with field data. The point cloud for this study was generated using the TOPCON GLS2000, with produce 103, 477, 813 points. This study involved 42 random samples of various tree to identify diameter at height (DBH). The study was conducted at University Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) campus, Johor Bahru. Measurements from both point cloud and field data provided estimates of Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.038m with overestimation 0.004m. The difference between field and TLS measurements demonstrates a strong correlation with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.982. In total, 135.736 tonne aboveground biomass was produced from 42 trees sample, while the total carbon stock was 67.868 tonne.