US 2022/0284605 A1 · SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FOREST CANOPY HEIGHT ESTIMATION

Abstract

Systems and methods of automating the generation of a correction of an estimate of an elevation of a digital elevation model (DEM) of the bare earth under forest canopy. The disclosed embodiments facilitate generation of a more accurate DEM in areas of canopy coverage (where the input X-band DSM cannot see the ground) to estimate both the canopy height and the associated DEM. In some embodiments, the result of computationally correcting an estimate of an original DEM is a modified DEM. The method of correcting an estimate of an original DEM utilizes a pair of P-band radar images, an original DEM overlapping the same scene as the P-band radar images, at least one common, uniquely-identifiable point in the P-band radar images, and a definition of a geographical area surrounding the common, uniquely identifiable point over which the elevation correction is applicable.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for automatically generating a correction of an estimate of a digital elevation model (DEM) elevation of the bare earth under forest canopy comprising:

identifying at least one uniquely-identifiable ground point commonly included in data collected from at least two P-band radar images;
using an original DEM for orthorectification of the at least two images that results in alignment of pixels included in the at least two P-band radar images;
determining a 3D coordinate representation of a point of closest approach that corresponds to the at least one uniquely-identifiable ground point commonly included in the at least two P-band radar images;
calculating an estimated error based on a difference between an elevation value of the at least one uniquely-identifiable ground point and a specified co-ordinate of the point of closest approach;
and
applying an elevation correction based on addition of the estimated error to the original DEM to generate a modified DEM.

3 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions configured to cause at least one computing device to perform a method for automatically generating a correction of an estimate of a digital terrain model (DTM) elevation of the bare earth under forest canopy comprising instructions for:

identifying at least one uniquely-identifiable ground point commonly included in data collected from at least two P-band radar images;
using an original DTM for orthorectification of the at least two images that results in alignment of pixels included in the at least two P-band radar images;
determining a 3D coordinate representation of a point of closest approach that corresponds to the at least one uniquely-identifiable ground point commonly included in the at least two P-band radar images;
calculating an estimated error based on a difference between an elevation value of the at least one uniquely-identifiable ground point and a specified co-ordinate of the point of closest approach;
and
applying an elevation correction based on addition of the estimated error to the original DTM to generate a modified DTM.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for forest canopy height estimation

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for forest canopy height estimation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20