Аннотация:Currently, the primary data collection method for the study of forests is multispectral satellite survey. Digital aerial images are mainly used for forest inventory. However, now the widely used air laser scanning has not found the application for forest research. The main reasons: high cost, lack of methodology, low awareness of the method by researchers.
Progress in laser scanning field allowed greatly increase productivity of systems, among which are a number of devices that are comparable with aerial systems in capability. The cost of obtaining data in these systems can also be compared with space segment data.
The use of this survey type in common with aerial images allowed quickly and accurately obtains a number of vegetation characteristics which inaccessible to obtain with space images or classical aerial photography. For using these possibilities, it takes to develop of calculation methods for the new information. Such an experience is already available: in 2012-2013 was conducted research for “Roslesinforg” dedicated to exploring the possibilities of forest inventory by laser scanning data.
Taking into account the hardware equipment features and additional sensors are invited to intensify efforts to implement this method in practice of geographical forest research along with practical problems solution