Chapter 7
Landscape Ecological Mapping
for Biodiversity Evaluation Using Airborne
Laser Scanning Data
Mamoru Koarai
Abstract In this chapter, we describe our method for landscape ecological mapping in support of biodiversity evaluation through the use of airborne laser survey
data. Our study areas include the Siretoko Peninsula, well known as a World
Natural Heritage area, and the Chugoku mountainous area in the Satoyama Region,
Japan. The landscape ecological map consists of the combination of a three
dimensional vegetation structure classification derived from a detailed digital
surface model (DSM) and a micro landform classification generated from a detailed
digital elevation model (DEM). Airborne laser survey data were used to derive
micro landforms under forest areas by using the last pulse data in a Fall season.
Vegetation classification was generated by using the seasonal difference of the
airborne laser survey data acquired in Summer and Fall. An overlay analysis of the
vegetation classification and the landform classification indicates that at
the Shiretoko Peninsula, three dimensional vegetation structures are more related
to terrain elevation rather than micro landforms. And at the Chugoku mountainous
area, some early deciduous high thin crown trees are located in historical mining
sites within several micro landform categories such as gentle slope, concave and
rough texture.
Keywords Airborne laser survey • Landscape ecological mapping • Three
dimensional vegitation structure • Automated micro landform classification
7.1 Introduction
For biodiversity assessment, in addition to the distribution of species and the degree
of deterioration of the natural environment, the topographic conditions of the
assessment area must also be examined. Thus, the importance of a landscape
M. Koarai (*)
Survey Department, College of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT),
2-2-1 Kihei-cho, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8520, Japan
e-mail: koarai-m9510@mlit.go.jp
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015
J. Li, X. Yang (eds.), Monitoring and Modeling of Global Changes:
A Geomatics Perspective, Springer Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-9813-6_7
137
Landscape Ecological Mapping
for Biodiversity Evaluation Using Airborne
Laser Scanning Data
Mamoru Koarai
Abstract In this chapter, we describe our method for landscape ecological mapping in support of biodiversity evaluation through the use of airborne laser survey
data. Our study areas include the Siretoko Peninsula, well known as a World
Natural Heritage area, and the Chugoku mountainous area in the Satoyama Region,
Japan. The landscape ecological map consists of the combination of a three
dimensional vegetation structure classification derived from a detailed digital
surface model (DSM) and a micro landform classification generated from a detailed
digital elevation model (DEM). Airborne laser survey data were used to derive
micro landforms under forest areas by using the last pulse data in a Fall season.
Vegetation classification was generated by using the seasonal difference of the
airborne laser survey data acquired in Summer and Fall. An overlay analysis of the
vegetation classification and the landform classification indicates that at
the Shiretoko Peninsula, three dimensional vegetation structures are more related
to terrain elevation rather than micro landforms. And at the Chugoku mountainous
area, some early deciduous high thin crown trees are located in historical mining
sites within several micro landform categories such as gentle slope, concave and
rough texture.
Keywords Airborne laser survey • Landscape ecological mapping • Three
dimensional vegitation structure • Automated micro landform classification
7.1 Introduction
For biodiversity assessment, in addition to the distribution of species and the degree
of deterioration of the natural environment, the topographic conditions of the
assessment area must also be examined. Thus, the importance of a landscape
M. Koarai (*)
Survey Department, College of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT),
2-2-1 Kihei-cho, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8520, Japan
e-mail: koarai-m9510@mlit.go.jp
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015
J. Li, X. Yang (eds.), Monitoring and Modeling of Global Changes:
A Geomatics Perspective, Springer Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-9813-6_7
137