A comparative study of regression methods to predict forest structure and canopy fuel variables from LiDAR full-waveform data

Regression methods are widely employed in forestry to predict and map structure and canopy fuel variables. We present a study where several regression models (linear, non-linear, regression trees and ensemble) were assessed. Independent variables were calculated using metrics extracted from full-wav...

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Main Authors: P. Crespo-Peremarch, L.A. Ruiz, A. Balaguer-Beser
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitat Politècnica de València 2016-02-01
Series:Revista de Teledetección
Subjects:
Online Access:http://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/raet/article/view/4066
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author P. Crespo-Peremarch
L.A. Ruiz
A. Balaguer-Beser
author_facet P. Crespo-Peremarch
L.A. Ruiz
A. Balaguer-Beser
author_sort P. Crespo-Peremarch
collection DOAJ
description Regression methods are widely employed in forestry to predict and map structure and canopy fuel variables. We present a study where several regression models (linear, non-linear, regression trees and ensemble) were assessed. Independent variables were calculated using metrics extracted from full-waveform LiDAR data, while the reference data used to generate the dependent variables for the prediction models were obtained from fieldwork in 78 plots of 16 m radius. Transformations of dependent and independent variables with feature selection were carried out to assess their influence in the prediction of response variables. In order to evaluate significant differences and rank regression models we used the non-parametric tests Wilcoxon and Friedman, and post-hoc analysis or post-hoc pairwise multiple comparison tests, such as Nemenyi, for Friedman test. Regressions using transformation of the dependent variable, like square-root or logarithmic, or the independent variable, increased R2 up to 6% with respect to linear regression using unprocessed response variables. CART (Classification and Regression Tree) method provided poor results, but it may be interesting for categorisation purposes. Square-root transformation of the dependent variable is the method having the best overall results, except for stand volume. However, not always has a significant improvement with respect to other regression methods.
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spelling doaj-art-e0b4fd89ea7f4c758bc9a8da9237374d2025-01-02T15:11:05ZengUniversitat Politècnica de ValènciaRevista de Teledetección1133-09531988-87402016-02-01045274010.4995/raet.2016.40663278A comparative study of regression methods to predict forest structure and canopy fuel variables from LiDAR full-waveform dataP. Crespo-Peremarch0L.A. Ruiz1A. Balaguer-Beser2Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaUniversitat Politècnica de ValènciaUniversitat Politècnica de ValènciaRegression methods are widely employed in forestry to predict and map structure and canopy fuel variables. We present a study where several regression models (linear, non-linear, regression trees and ensemble) were assessed. Independent variables were calculated using metrics extracted from full-waveform LiDAR data, while the reference data used to generate the dependent variables for the prediction models were obtained from fieldwork in 78 plots of 16 m radius. Transformations of dependent and independent variables with feature selection were carried out to assess their influence in the prediction of response variables. In order to evaluate significant differences and rank regression models we used the non-parametric tests Wilcoxon and Friedman, and post-hoc analysis or post-hoc pairwise multiple comparison tests, such as Nemenyi, for Friedman test. Regressions using transformation of the dependent variable, like square-root or logarithmic, or the independent variable, increased R2 up to 6% with respect to linear regression using unprocessed response variables. CART (Classification and Regression Tree) method provided poor results, but it may be interesting for categorisation purposes. Square-root transformation of the dependent variable is the method having the best overall results, except for stand volume. However, not always has a significant improvement with respect to other regression methods.http://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/raet/article/view/4066Regression modelsRandom ForestCARTM5WilcoxonFriedmanforest structurecanopy fuelLiDAR full-waveform
spellingShingle P. Crespo-Peremarch
L.A. Ruiz
A. Balaguer-Beser
A comparative study of regression methods to predict forest structure and canopy fuel variables from LiDAR full-waveform data
Revista de Teledetección
Regression models
Random Forest
CART
M5
Wilcoxon
Friedman
forest structure
canopy fuel
LiDAR full-waveform
title A comparative study of regression methods to predict forest structure and canopy fuel variables from LiDAR full-waveform data
title_full A comparative study of regression methods to predict forest structure and canopy fuel variables from LiDAR full-waveform data
title_fullStr A comparative study of regression methods to predict forest structure and canopy fuel variables from LiDAR full-waveform data
title_full_unstemmed A comparative study of regression methods to predict forest structure and canopy fuel variables from LiDAR full-waveform data
title_short A comparative study of regression methods to predict forest structure and canopy fuel variables from LiDAR full-waveform data
title_sort comparative study of regression methods to predict forest structure and canopy fuel variables from lidar full waveform data
topic Regression models
Random Forest
CART
M5
Wilcoxon
Friedman
forest structure
canopy fuel
LiDAR full-waveform
url http://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/raet/article/view/4066
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