ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Use of Remote Sensing for Investigating
Riparian Shrub Structures
Tomasz Kałuża1, Przemysław Tymków2, Paweł Strzeliński3
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1Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Faculty of Reclamation and Environmental Engineering,
Poznań University of Life Sciences, Piątkowska 94, 60-649 Poznań, Poland
2Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformatics, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
3Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2012;21(1):115-122
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ABSTRACT
Our paper presents a comparison of remote-sensing methods for evaluation of riparian shrub structures.
Investigation involved three methods: leaf area index measurements (LAI-2000), hemispheric photography,
and terrestrial laser scanning. Direct measurements using a digital slide caliper were chosen as a reference
method. This paper firstly reviews the methodology of laboratory and field research. Additionally, an original
method of calculating the volume and surface area of plants on the basis of laser scanning data has been proposed.
The second part of paper concentrates on the comparison of plant structure coefficients determined with
all investigated devices. In the case of the LAI Ring 5 index from LAI-2000 measurement as well as canopy
openness of shrub (P), obtained on the basis of hemispheric photos, high linear dependence between them and
cross-section covering coefficient ϖp from direct investigation were obtained. Volume and surface area of
plants calculated on the basis of laser scanning in micro- and macrostructural approach were also compared
to the analogous parameters obtained from direct measurements. In this case, the results strongly depend on
the modeling parameters, but the proposed method seems to be prospective in this task.