Estimation of Forest Structural Attributes Using ICESat/GLAS-Spaceborne Laser Altimetry Data in the Western Ghats Region of India

Three-dimensional structural information of a forest plays a significant role in global forest ecosystem management practices. Optical remote sensing successfully provides abundant spectral information regarding the horizontal distribution of forests. However, measuring the vertical structural attributes of the forest ecosystems for highly complex and heterogeneous forests such as Western Ghats (India) is typically challenging for even these technologies. The measurements of the forest stand-level structural parameters in the Western Ghats of India have not been reported to date. Therefore, the objective of the present study was the estimation of the structural attributes of Mudumalai and Sholayar reserved forests in the Western Ghats region of India using spaceborne ICESat GLAS data. The forest structural attributes estimated in the present study were as follows: canopy height, canopy density, and understory vegetation height. The results obtained indicated a strong correlation with field measurements. The ICESat/GLAS data used in the present study enabled the analysis of structural parameters, contributing significantly to the better understanding of the heterogeneous complex forest ecosystem of the Western Ghats.