Scaling Small-footprint Airborne Laser Waveforms to Simulate DESDynI waveforms for Vegetation Structure Characterization
Amy
L
Neuenschwander, University of Texas at Austin, amy@csr.utexas.edu
(Presenting)
In preparation for the NASA DESDynI mission, this research is focused on scaling-up small-footprint laser waveforms to simulate space-based laser waveforms. Specifically, the goal is to examine the accuracy and success of vegetation structure retrieval algorithms on large-footprint data. Previous studies where coincident small-footprint waveform lidar have overflown ICESat/GLAS ground tracks, the synthesis method for combining the small-footprint data into a large-footprint “spacelike” waveform works well. By synthesizing space-based waveforms from small-footprint airborne waveform lidar over various biomes, height retrieval errors can be estimated which will provide a foundation to develop new algorithms for the DESDynI mission and future NASA laser altimetry missions. Data from three airborne lidar campaigns across Texas and Mississippi were synthesized to create over 400 20 m diameter footprints for analysis. Preliminary results indicate maximum canopy height retrieval errors had an RSME of 1.12 m for footprints have sufficient canopy cover within the footprint (>40%). Additionally, large-footprint structure metrics such as canopy cover and RH50 were compared against airborne estimates of canopy cover and mean canopy height, respectively.
Presentation Type: Poster
Poster Session: Orbital and Suborbital Missions
NASA TE Funded Awards Represented:
Neuenschwander, Amy
INVESTIGATIONS AND ERROR ANALYSIS OF VEGETATION STRUCTURE RETRIEVAL ALGORITHMS FROM SPACEBORNE LASER ALTIMETRY FOR THE DESDynI MISSION