Scene and LiDAR configuration diagrams.
GA, UNITED STATES, April 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — A new study shows that not all simplifications in spaceborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) modeling are equally reliable. By testing realistic forest canopies, researchers found that some assumptions, such as ignoring woody parts or using one representative leaf spectrum, have only minor effects on simulated waveforms. In contrast, assuming a uniform foliage area volume density can cause much larger errors, especially in clumped canopies. The work offers a clearer route to more accurate forest structure retrieval from satellite LiDAR data.
Spaceborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) has become a powerful tool for observing forest height, biomass, carbon stocks, and…