This advanced, hands-on course focuses on measuring and modeling trees and forests using field methods, lidar, and drones. Students will visit established forest plots, collect traditional forestry measurements, and use terrestrial lidar, drone photogrammetry, and airborne lidar to characterize forest structure. Computer labs will focus on processing point clouds, building 3D models, and extracting measurements such as tree height, crown dimensions, and canopy structure. Students will compare measurements produced by different methods, evaluate their accuracy and limitations, and develop practical experience moving from field data collection through remotely sensed measurement, processing, analysis, and visualization of forest structure.
Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:
4* - Lasers, Drones, and Trees
(upper-division science credits marked with *)
Registration
Prerequisites: Prior coursework in GIS and field data collection. Drone experience is recommended.
Academic Details
Remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), forest ecology, forest inventory and measurement, geospatial science and technology, lidar and 3D mapping, drone-based surveying, natural resource management, environmental monitoring, precision forestry, and conservation science.
Upper division science credit may be awarded in environmental or forest science through successful completion of advanced field data collection, quantitative analysis, and interpretation of three-dimensional forest structure.