Expanding forest research with terrestrial LiDAR technology.
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41053046.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-63946-6 and PMC identifier 12501281.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
The three-dimensional arrangement of plant components, both within and among individual trees, is fundamental for characterizing forest ecosystems. This structure not only influences but also responds to environmental changes, playing a key role in regulating light regimes, forest productivity, as well as physiological and biophysical processes. Over the past few decades, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS, or terrestrial LiDAR) has provided a unique perspective of this 3D structure, offering new insights into ecological processes and forest disturbances, as well as enhancing structural assessments in forest and carbon inventories. Here, we examine recent advancements in TLS and its applications in forest science. We also explore how increasing computational power, alongside the rise of artificial intelligence, is empowering researchers to tackle more complex questions, paving the way for breakthroughs in understanding forest ecosystem dynamics in a changing world.