• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.3
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• pp.435-449
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• 2022

Forest canopy height is an indispensable vertical structure parameter that can be used for understanding forest biomass and carbon storage as well as for managing a sustainable forest ecosystem. Plot-based field surveys, such as the national forest inventory, have been conducted to provide estimates of the forest canopy height. However, the comprehensive nationwide field monitoring of forest canopy height has been limited by its cost, lack of spatial coverage, and the inaccessibility of some forested areas. These issues can be addressed by remote sensing technology, which has gained popularity as a means to obtain detailed 2- and 3-dimensional measurements of the structure of the canopy at multiple scales. Here, we reviewed both international and domestic studies that have used remote sensing technology approaches to estimate the forest canopy height. We categorized and examined previous approaches as: 1) LiDAR approach, 2) Stereo or SAR image-based point clouds approach, and 3) combination approach of remote sensing data. We also reviewed upscaling approaches of utilizing remote sensing data to generate a continuous map of canopy height across large areas. Finally, we provided suggestions for further advancement of the Korean forest canopy height estimation system through the use of various remote sensing technologies.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.638-641
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• 2004

Returned laser pulse has certain relationship with vegetation canopy structure (canopy closure, height, LAI, biomass). This study attempts to analyze the characteristics of airborne laser scanner data over very dense forest canopy. Discrete pulse laser scanner data were obtained on April 25, 2004 along with digital aerial color imagery. Using forest stand maps, 14 sample stands of 7 species groups were selected and the elevations from the first and last laser return were compared. From the preliminary analysis, we found that the difference between the first and last return was higher with deciduous forest stand than in coniferous stand. Although difference between the first and the last laser returns often corresponds to tree height, it would not be the case for the forest site having very dense canopy structure.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.307-318
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• 2012

To understand forest structures, the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) instrument have been employed to measure and monitor forest canopy with feasibility of acquiring three dimensional canopy structure information. This study tried to examine the potential of GLAS dataset in measuring forest canopy structures, particularly maximum canopy height estimation. To estimate maximum canopy height using feasible GLAS dataset, we simply used difference between signal start and ground peak derived from Gaussian decomposition method. After estimation procedure, maximum canopy height was derived from airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data and it was applied to evaluate the accuracy of that of GLAS estimation. In addition, several influences, such as topographical and biophysical factors, were analyzed and discussed to explain error sources of direct maximum canopy height estimation using GLAS data. In the result of estimation using direct method, a root mean square error (RMSE) was estimated at 8.15 m. The estimation tended to be overestimated when comparing to derivations of airborne LiDAR. According to the result of error occurrences analysis, we need to consider these error sources, particularly terrain slope within GLAS footprint, and to apply statistical regression approach based on various parameters from a Gaussian decomposition for accurate and reliable maximum canopy height estimation.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.279-288
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• 2008

Vertical forest distribution is one of the important factors to understand various ecological mechanism such as succession, disturbance and environmental effects. LiDAR data provide information, both the horizontal and vertical distribution of forest structure. The laser scanner survey provided a point cloud, in which the x, y, and z coordinates of the points are known. The objectives of this study were 1) to analyze factors of forest structure such as individual tree isolation, tree height, canopy closure and tree density using LiDAR data and 2) to compare the forest structure between outer and interior forest. The paper conducted to extract the individual tree using watershed algorithm and to interpolate using the first return of LiDAR data for yielding digital surface model (DSM). The results of the study show characters of edge such as more isolated individual trees, higher density, lower canopy closure, and lower tree height than those of interior forest. LiDAR data is to be useful for analyzing of forest structure. Further study should be undertaken with species for more accurate results.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.2
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• pp.247-254
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to assess the canopy fuel characteristics of five major coniferous species in Korea. This study was also developed allometric equations for the canopy fuel load and canopy base height of the major coniferous species using the allomeric equations of biomass developed by the Korea Forest Research Institute and the data from the $5^{th}$ National Forest Inventory. Among the major coniferous fuel types, Pinus koraiensis stands had the highest mean canopy bulk density, 0.34 kg/$m^3$, followed by Gangwon region Pinus densiflora stands 0.28 kg/$m^3$, Pinus thunbergii stands 0.24 kg/$m^3$, Pinus rigida stands 0.15 kg/$m^3$, Central region Pinus densiflora stands 0.12 kg/$m^3$ and Larix leptolepis stands 0.09 kg/$m^3$. The adjusted multiple coefficient of determination of the developed models ranged from 0.6321 to 0.9950 for canopy fuel load and 0.6390 to 0.8539 for canopy base height.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.2_2
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• pp.325-335
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• 2020

Forest canopy height can be used for estimate of above-ground forest biomass (AGB) by means of the allometric equation. The remote locations and harsh conditions of mangrove forests limit the number of field inventory data stations needed for large-scale modeling of carbon and biomass dynamics. Although active and passive spaceborne sensors have proven successful in mapping mangroves globally, the sensors generally have coarse spatial resolution and overlook small-scale features. Here we generate a 12 m spatial resolution mangrove canopy height map from TanDEM-X data acquired over the world largest intact mangrove forest located in the Sundarbans. With single-pol. TanDEM-X data from 2011 to 2013, the proposed technique makes use of the fact that the double-bounce scattering that occurs between the water and mangrove trees yields water surface level elevation over mangrove forest areas, thus allowing us to estimate forest height with the assumption of an underlying flat topography. Our observations have led to a large-scale mangrove canopy height map over the entire Sundarbans region at a 12 m spatial resolution. Our canopy height estimates were validated with ground measurements acquired in 2015, a correlation coefficient of 0.83 and a RMSE of 0.84 m. With globally available TanDEM-X data, the technique described here will potentially provide accurate global maps of mangrove canopy height at 12 m spatial resolution and provide crucial information for understanding biomass and carbon dynamics in the mangrove ecosystems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.5 s.162
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• pp.321-329
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• 2005

Based on the data representing four typical Korean pine forest types, the age structure, DBH distribution, species composition, and forking rule were systemically analyzed for old-growth Korean pine forest in Liangshui Nature Reserve, northeast China. The age structure of Korean pine trees was strongly uneven-aged with one dominated peak following normal distribution, and age of trees varied from 100 to 180 years within a stand. The DBH and height differences in same age class (20 years) varied from 28 cm~64 cm and 5 to 20 m, respectively. Many conifer and hard wood species, such as spruce, fir, costata birch, basswood, oak, and elm, were mixed with dominated trees of Korean pine. The canopy of the old-growth Korean pine forest can be divided into two layers, and differences of mean age and height between Layer I and Layer II were ranged 80~150 years and 7~13 m, respectively. The Weibull function was used to model the diameter distribution and performed well to describe size-class distribution either with a single peak in over-story canopy and inverse J-shape in under-story canopy for old-growth Korean pine stands. The forking height of Korean pine trees ranged from 16m to 24 m (mean 19.4 m) and tree age about 120 to 160 years old. The results will provide a scientific basis to protect and recover the ecosystem of natural old-growth Korean pine and also provide the model in management of Korean pine plantation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.96 no.2
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• pp.227-234
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• 2007

The forest canopy gap has been well known as a substantial process of forest cyclic regeneration and important role in stand structure, dynamics, and biodiversity of the forest ecosystem. Based on 3,600 $5m{\times}5m$ square grids in a 9ha permanent experimental plot, the study was conducted to evaluate the regeneration pattern of woody species by developmental stage {seedlings (<1 m of height), saplingI (>1 m of height, <2 cm of DBH), and saplingII (2 cm$<200m^2$), $201-400m^2$, $400-600m^2$, $601-800m^2$, and $>800m^2$) in the mixed broadleaved-Korean pine forest. The results indicated that the regenerating trees of Populus ussuriensis occurred only in the canopy gap area, considered to be a typical gap-dependent species. The regeneration of Ulmus japonica, Ulmus laciniata, and Maackia amurensis could be generally satisfied with the gap size of $201-600m^2$, Betula costata and Prunus padus with gap size of $401-800m^2$, Picea koraiensis with gap size of $201-800m^2$, Fraxinus mandshurica and Syringa reticulata var. mandshurica with smaller than $800m^2$, respectively. Acer ukurunduense and Acer tegmentosum were likely to have no problem with the gap size to make gap regeneration. Acer mono and Tilia amurensis looked more capable of regenerating in the closed canopy disregarding the upper crown condition. The regeneration of Pinus koraiensis and Abies nephrolepis had no trouble under the canopy condition in less than $800m^2$of gap size. The density of regenerating shrubs was rather high, especially under the closed canopy, considered to be associated with great amount of regeneration production in such shade tolerant species as Lonicera maackii, Corylus mandshurica, Euonymus pauciflorus, and Philadelphus schrenkii under the closed canopy. Pearson correlation coefficient was computed to compare the similarity among non-gap area and five gap size classes by developmental stages for trees and shrubs. The similarity coefficients among closed canopy and the gap size classes were mostly significantly correlated to each other with a few exceptions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.5
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• pp.540-546
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• 2008

Enrichment planting has been used as one of the promising restoration techniques to accelerate the natural restoration process of secondary forests or logged-over forests in Myanmar, The objectives of this study were to examine the growth performances of two commercial species such as Teak (Tectona grandis Linn f.) and Padauk (Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kurz) in response to different canopy opening treatments and to examine the suitability of these species in enrichment planting activities for the restoration of degraded tropical forests in Myanmar. In this study, split plot design was applied, and three levels of canopy openings were experimented. The survival rate and height growth of two species were measured four times with 6 month interval. The root collar diameter (RCD) was also measured in the last assessment. Although the survival rate of seedlings was not significantly different among the three treatments (p>0.05) as well as between two species (p>0.05) for all consecutive measurements, height (p<0.05) and RCD were significantly different (p<0.001) among the treatments, T. grandis seedlings thrived best under complete canopy opening (i.e., 5 m width canopy opening with strip-clear cutting) while P. macrocarpus seedlings under partial canopy opening (without felling of marketable tree species). Because this study is concerned with only for young stage of seedlings, continuous assessment and follow-up tending activities are needed to verify the species suitability and optimum width of canopy opening for enrichment planting activities in restoration of degraded forests of Myanmar.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Background: Though the biomass of floral vegetation in understory plant communities in a forested ecosystem only accounts for less than 1% of the total biomass of a forest, they contain most of the floral resources of a forest. The diversity of understory honey plants determines visitation rate of pollinators such as honey bee (Apis mellifera) as they provide rich food resources. Since the flower visitation and foraging activity of pollinators lead to the provision of pollination service, it also means the enhancement of plant-pollinator relationship. Therefore, an appropriate management scheme for understory vegetation is essential in order to conserve pollinator population that is decreasing due to habitat destruction and disease infection. This research examined the diversity of understory honey plant and studied how it is related to environmental variables such as (1) canopy density, (2) horizontal heterogeneity of canopy surface height, (3) slope gradient, and (4) distance from roads. Vegetation survey data of 39 plots of mixed forests in Chuncheon, Korea, were used, and possible management practices for understory vegetation were suggested. Results: This study found that 113 species among 141 species of honey plant of the forests were classified as understory vegetation. Also, the understory honey plant diversity is significantly positively correlated with distance from the nearest road and horizontal heterogeneity of canopy surface height and negatively correlated with canopy density. Conclusions: The diversity of understory honey plant vegetation is correlated to vegetation structure and human impact. In order to enhance the diversity of understory honey plant, management of density and height of canopy is necessary. This study suggests that improved diversity of canopy cover through thinning of overstory vegetation can increase the diversity of understory honey plant species.