Characterization and Classification of Vegetation Canopy Structure and Distribution within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Using LiDAR

A comprehensive analysis of vegetation canopy structures in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, covering 139,859 hectares, reveals critical habitat patterns essential for threatened and endangered species. Using advanced LiDAR technology, researchers captured three-dimensional canopy data, surpassing traditional two-dimensional remote sensing methods. The study developed a computationally efficient approach to process large-scale LiDAR datasets, providing valuable insights into the distribution of vegetation and animal habitats in this biodiverse ecosystem. This research supports forest and wildlife management by offering detailed information for conservation planning and biodiversity monitoring.

Kumar, J., Weiner, J., Hargrove, W. W., Norman, S. P., Hoffman, F. M., & Newcomb, D. (2015). Characterization and Classification of Vegetation Canopy Structure and Distribution within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Using LiDAR. 2015 IEEE International Conference on Data Mining Workshop (ICDMW), 1478–1485. https://doi.org/10.1109/icdmw.2015.178