the automatic landform classification were carried out using DEM with 50–10 m
grid size (Iwahashi and Pike 2007; Ho et al. 2011; MacMillan et al. 2003). Sato
et al. (2007) was performing the automatic landform classification using airborne
LIDAR data in Shirakami Mountain as the World Natural Heritage site, northeast
Japan, based on the method of Iwahashi and Pike (2007).
Another characteristic of airborne laser scanning is the possibility to acquire
vegetation three-dimensional information, using laser pulse reflected in levees and
branches of tree. For example, tree height can be extracted with about 1 m error
(Nelson et al. 1984; Næsset 1997a, b). Næsset (1997b, 2002) show that trees
numbers and sum of cross-sectional area of evergreen forest can be guessing
from LIDAR data.
7.3 Study Areas
The author had selected two study areas in Japan. One is Siretoko Peninsula,
Hokkaido Island as a wildness area, and another is Chugoku Mountain, Tottori
Prefecture as a Satoyama rural area (Fig. 7.2). The Shiretoko Peninsula is the World
Natural Heritage Site, and a great portion of the peninsula is designated as
Shiretoko National Park. The park has been subject to strict regulation as a nature
preserve, and entering is prohibited in some area. The objective of the study is to
understand biodiversity of this nature preserve, and to establish a landscape ecological map to ensure protection of biodiversity by using high resolution airborne
Fig. 7.1 Principle of airborne laser scanning
7 Airborne Laser Scanning Data
139
grid size (Iwahashi and Pike 2007; Ho et al. 2011; MacMillan et al. 2003). Sato
et al. (2007) was performing the automatic landform classification using airborne
LIDAR data in Shirakami Mountain as the World Natural Heritage site, northeast
Japan, based on the method of Iwahashi and Pike (2007).
Another characteristic of airborne laser scanning is the possibility to acquire
vegetation three-dimensional information, using laser pulse reflected in levees and
branches of tree. For example, tree height can be extracted with about 1 m error
(Nelson et al. 1984; Næsset 1997a, b). Næsset (1997b, 2002) show that trees
numbers and sum of cross-sectional area of evergreen forest can be guessing
from LIDAR data.
7.3 Study Areas
The author had selected two study areas in Japan. One is Siretoko Peninsula,
Hokkaido Island as a wildness area, and another is Chugoku Mountain, Tottori
Prefecture as a Satoyama rural area (Fig. 7.2). The Shiretoko Peninsula is the World
Natural Heritage Site, and a great portion of the peninsula is designated as
Shiretoko National Park. The park has been subject to strict regulation as a nature
preserve, and entering is prohibited in some area. The objective of the study is to
understand biodiversity of this nature preserve, and to establish a landscape ecological map to ensure protection of biodiversity by using high resolution airborne
Fig. 7.1 Principle of airborne laser scanning
7 Airborne Laser Scanning Data
139