Application of U-net models in estimating forest canopy closure based on multi-source remote sensing imagery

Forest Canopy Closure (CC) is vital for assessing forest ecosystems. This study integrates multispectral imagery with enhanced U-Net models (U-Net, U-Net++, U-Net3+) to achieve cost-effective large-scale CC estimation. These models are optimized by reordering the network output layers and enhancing...

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Main Authors: Lei Chen, TingTing Yang, ZhiQiang Wu, XinLong Li, YanZhen Lin, Yi Lian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Geocarto International
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10106049.2025.2545910
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author Lei Chen
TingTing Yang
ZhiQiang Wu
XinLong Li
YanZhen Lin
Yi Lian
author_facet Lei Chen
TingTing Yang
ZhiQiang Wu
XinLong Li
YanZhen Lin
Yi Lian
author_sort Lei Chen
collection DOAJ
description Forest Canopy Closure (CC) is vital for assessing forest ecosystems. This study integrates multispectral imagery with enhanced U-Net models (U-Net, U-Net++, U-Net3+) to achieve cost-effective large-scale CC estimation. These models are optimized by reordering the network output layers and enhancing feature fusion between convolutional and pooling operations. By experimenting with different combinations of multi-parameters with the improved U-Net architectures, we estimate CC and validate the results using airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) CC data. The results show that (1) Ratio Vegetation Index (RVI) had the strongest correlation with CC (R2= 0.8135). (2) U-Net exhibits optimal stability under structural adjustments; (3) Adjust-U-Net++ achieves the highest accuracy, with R2=0.8785, RMSE = 0.1256, EA = 77.46% and MAE = 0.0800; (4) Multi-parameter combinations outperform single parameters in CC estimation. By exploring both the selection of input parameters and the structural optimization of U-Net models, this study provides an effective approach for large-scale, low-cost CC estimation.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1010-6049
1752-0762
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Geocarto International
spelling doaj-art-f3c7bf9b62d04290b67ece9013db3c4c2025-08-20T03:36:45ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGeocarto International1010-60491752-07622025-12-0140110.1080/10106049.2025.2545910Application of U-net models in estimating forest canopy closure based on multi-source remote sensing imageryLei Chen0TingTing Yang1ZhiQiang Wu2XinLong Li3YanZhen Lin4Yi Lian5Geography Department, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, ChinaGeography Department, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Surveying and Mapping, Information Engineering University, Zhengzhou, ChinaZhongshui Northeast Survey, Design and Research Co., Ltd, Changchun, Jilin, ChinaGeography Department, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, ChinaGeography Department, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, ChinaForest Canopy Closure (CC) is vital for assessing forest ecosystems. This study integrates multispectral imagery with enhanced U-Net models (U-Net, U-Net++, U-Net3+) to achieve cost-effective large-scale CC estimation. These models are optimized by reordering the network output layers and enhancing feature fusion between convolutional and pooling operations. By experimenting with different combinations of multi-parameters with the improved U-Net architectures, we estimate CC and validate the results using airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) CC data. The results show that (1) Ratio Vegetation Index (RVI) had the strongest correlation with CC (R2= 0.8135). (2) U-Net exhibits optimal stability under structural adjustments; (3) Adjust-U-Net++ achieves the highest accuracy, with R2=0.8785, RMSE = 0.1256, EA = 77.46% and MAE = 0.0800; (4) Multi-parameter combinations outperform single parameters in CC estimation. By exploring both the selection of input parameters and the structural optimization of U-Net models, this study provides an effective approach for large-scale, low-cost CC estimation.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10106049.2025.2545910GF-1 multi-spectral imagerycanopy closureU-Netmodel structure adjustmentinput parameter changes
spellingShingle Lei Chen
TingTing Yang
ZhiQiang Wu
XinLong Li
YanZhen Lin
Yi Lian
Application of U-net models in estimating forest canopy closure based on multi-source remote sensing imagery
Geocarto International
GF-1 multi-spectral imagery
canopy closure
U-Net
model structure adjustment
input parameter changes
title Application of U-net models in estimating forest canopy closure based on multi-source remote sensing imagery
title_full Application of U-net models in estimating forest canopy closure based on multi-source remote sensing imagery
title_fullStr Application of U-net models in estimating forest canopy closure based on multi-source remote sensing imagery
title_full_unstemmed Application of U-net models in estimating forest canopy closure based on multi-source remote sensing imagery
title_short Application of U-net models in estimating forest canopy closure based on multi-source remote sensing imagery
title_sort application of u net models in estimating forest canopy closure based on multi source remote sensing imagery
topic GF-1 multi-spectral imagery
canopy closure
U-Net
model structure adjustment
input parameter changes
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10106049.2025.2545910
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AT zhiqiangwu applicationofunetmodelsinestimatingforestcanopyclosurebasedonmultisourceremotesensingimagery
AT xinlongli applicationofunetmodelsinestimatingforestcanopyclosurebasedonmultisourceremotesensingimagery
AT yanzhenlin applicationofunetmodelsinestimatingforestcanopyclosurebasedonmultisourceremotesensingimagery
AT yilian applicationofunetmodelsinestimatingforestcanopyclosurebasedonmultisourceremotesensingimagery