UAV Laser Point Cloud Breast Height Diameter Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for calculating forest resource information, such as tree volume, cannot measure the breast height diameter from laser measurement data obtained by aircraft, requiring time-consuming ground surveys for estimation.

Innovation Solution

A forest resource information generation structure and method using UAV-mounted laser scanners to capture tree crown shapes, extract breast height diameter from three-dimensional point cloud data, and create estimation equations for accurate forest resource information generation without ground surveys.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If ground survey is used to measure breast height diameter, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to huge time and effort requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreast height diameter measurement precisionVSAvoiddata collection efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a three-dimensional point cloud model (digital copy) of the forest stand using laser measurement data from aerial photography. This digital model enables extraction of breast height diameter information without physical ground survey, thereby improving productivity while maintaining measurement precision through automated processing of the point cloud data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical ground survey system with an aerial laser scanning system. By using laser measurement data captured from aircraft to generate point cloud models, the system eliminates the need for manual ground measurement while achieving both high productivity and measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If aerial laser measurement is used, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates because breast height diameter cannot be directly measured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection efficiencyVSAvoidbreast height diameter measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms two-dimensional aerial laser measurement data into a three-dimensional point cloud model. This dimensional transformation enables the extraction of breast height diameter information by analyzing the spatial distribution of points at breast height level, thereby achieving measurement precision comparable to ground survey while maintaining aerial measurement productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary processing of laser measurement data to create a three-dimensional point cloud model before extracting breast height diameter information. This preliminary action organizes the raw data into a structured format that facilitates accurate measurement extraction without requiring ground survey

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient and accurate measurement of breast height diameters and tree volumes across entire forest stands, reducing the need for ground surveys and improving data collection efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or drone)-mounted laser scanner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Data Source

PatentUS12118782B2Forest resource information generation structure and forest resource information generation method

Publication Date: 2024.10.15 KOUWA CO LTD

AI summary

A forest resource information generation structure and a forest resource information generation method enable more efficiently grasping forest resource information via direct measurement of a breast height diameter with no need for an actual measurement data collection process such as a ground survey are provided. A forest resource information generation structure 100 is a structure for generating forest resource information using point cloud data D00 of forest resources, the point cloud data D00 being acquired via a remote sensing technique, and includes a tree top detection processing section 10 for obtaining tree top information D10 and a breast height diameter calculation processing section 35 for obtaining breast height diameter information D35, and further includes a tree trunk detection processing section 30 for obtaining breast height part information D30 based on terrain height information obtained from the point cloud data D00 and the tree top information D10, and the breast height diameter information D35 is generated by the breast height part information D30 being subjected to processing in the breast height diameter calculation processing section 35.