Aim
In this module you will gain a detailed understanding of the advantages and challenges of Earth observation using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems. Compared to other types of remote sensing data, the data from active Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems is of particular importance for local studies, where the 3D component (height) of objects is of relevance. Commonly LiDAR data is applied it in the field of digital terrain modelling, in forestry – e.g. for canopy height assessment, or urban structure applications. LiDAR embraces a range of active remote sensing systems mounted on different platforms, which provide valuable information for characterization of horizontal and vertical structure of the earth surface by measuring the travel time of laser pulses in visible and near-infrared spectral domains. The quality of scanning depends on the nature of the LIDAR system (discrete-return or full waveform) as well as on a set of other terrain- and data-driven factors. This course provides you with an overview on the theory and applications of LiDAR data, with a particular focus on airborne laser scanning. Following the initial theoretical sections on the principles and basic characteristics of LiDAR data, diverse practical steps and exercises will be implemented to provide real-world examples to illustrate how the LiDAR point clouds can be applied to extract information on terrain, surface and vegetation. These information will be further employed to model vegetation structural attributes on multiple spatial scales ranging from single trees to landscape levels.
Content
Block 1: Introduction to LiDAR (how does laser scanning work?)
- Reminder on general remote sensing issues: difference between active and passive sensing
- History of LiDAR measurements
- Basics of LiDAR data measurements (platforms, sensors)
- Airborne vs. spaceborne LiDAR: history, applications and data access
- Measurement of travel time of laser light (pulsed time of flight)
- On the concept of “structure”: why a third dimension is crucial?
Block 2: Principles of LiDAR measurements
- Platform navigation, orientation and positioning
- Difference between types of data acquisitions: discrete return and echo waveform
- The recorded parameters: elevation, height, signal intensity and co.
- The concept of „single-pulse“ vs. „multiple-pulse“
- How are the incoming returns recorded? first come- first served!
- Terrestrial LiDAR measurement: one position, rotating scanner
- Data formats and big data-management: each byte matters!
Block 3: Elevation models:
- General thoughts: why are the elevation models essential?
- Digital terrain models
- Digital surface models
- Normalized DSM (Canopy height models)
- Application fields: Forest, landscape and habitat representations
- Magnified focus on Forest (basic and derived parameters): Diameter at breast height, height, tree type proportions, tree type mapping, crown closure, stem count, growing stock und aboveground biomass
- Single tree measurements
- Urban: City models, roof top and building footprints
Block 4: Exercises in Open-Source domain of LiDAR data processing (Fusion/LDV, LASTools, R)
- Exercises on point cloud processing
- Import, export, visualizations and rendering
- Sample measurements, single tree measurements and associated tasks
- Elevation models
- Data trimming, cropping, smoothing and generalizing
- Catalog and descriptive communication
- Extraction of metrics for modeling purposes
- Thoughts on metrics
- Intensity: yes or no?
- Multi-scale metric extraction
- Multi-source metric extraction
- Class works and workshops (CIP-Pool/Homework)
- Literature review, discussion groups and public presentations
Coding
Coding examples and individual work will be covered
Software
Various software programs will be used, but mainly OpenSource software such as R.
Techniques
Different techniques will be introduced and practically applied.
Content
The content of scientific with regard to the audience will be discussed.
General Course News and Updates
Inno lab and MSc idea presentation
On Friday 8th of April from 9am onwards we will have the following EAGLE presentations: "Assessment of open-source street-level imagery for building classification in Lima, Peru" by Larissa Gorzawski (Inno lab supervised by Hannes Taubenböck and Christian Geiß)...
MSc idea and inno lab presentations
On Friday 11th of March from 10am onwards the following students will introduce their MSc idea or report on their innovation laboratory: Kemeng Liu (MSc idea): "Mapping Spatial-Temporal Developments of Coastal Aquaculture" supervised by Tobias Ullmann Antonio...
MSc defense by Sofia Garcia
On Friday, March 11th at 9am Sofia will present her M.Sc. thesis "Estimating socioeconomic variables in Bolivia using satellite-based nighttime light images and electricity consumption data". From the abstract: "The lack of up-to-date data on socio-economic parameters...
MSc thesis defense by Nestor Gualsaqui
On March 8th at 10:30 Nestor will present his M.Sc. thesis "Pre-crop emergence weed mapping using high satellite imagery". From the abstract: "During the last decades, the growth of the world population has been increasing and weather fluctuations around the world...
MSc defense Nils Karges
Nils Karges will present his M.Sc. thesis "Exploring spatial relationships of soundscape variables in urban areas. " on 15th of February at 9:30. From the abstract: "This work describes the relationship between soundscape and the underlying landscape in an urban...
MSc defense Camilo Zamora
On Friday 11th of February at 9am Camilo Zamora will present his M.Sc. thesis "Deforestation dynamics in the Dry Chaco ecoregion: a three decades of change detection and fragmentation study analysis". From the abtract: "Tropical forests represent 52% of global forests...
MSc idea and interesting presentations
on Friday 18th of February at 9am we will have the following presentations: Jakob Rieser - Thesis Idea: "A Synergistic Use of Optical and SAR Remote Sensing Data for the Long-term Evolution of Biocrusts and their Activity across diverse Dryland Ecosystems"....
Internship, inno lab and MSc. idea
On Monday 17th of January at 9am we will have the following presentations: Luisa Pflumm (MSc. idea presentation): "Assess silver-backed chevrotaindistribution in Nui Chua NP (Vietnam).", supervisors: Insa Otte, Andreas Wilting (IZW) Christopher Chan (Msc. idea...
Our EAGLEs featured on the University page
Our EAGLEs Sofia, Annika, Antonio, Andreas and Nils are featured on the University webpage with their UrbanSens idea of combining mobile IoT sensors and Earth Observation data for urban climate monitoring. Their success winning the DLR Copernicus challenge rewarded...
MSc defense by Yomna Eid
Yomna will present her M.Sc. thesis "Assessment of ESA CCI+ and NASA MODIS-LST in Ecological Transects of Australia" on January 14th 2022 at 10am. From the abstract: "Identifying the best-performing MODIS LST products available for scientific analysis is instrumental...