ICESat-2 for Canopy Cover Estimation at Large-Scale on a Cloud-Based Platform.

Forest canopy cover is an essential biophysical parameter of ecological significance, especially for characterizing woodlands and forests. This research focused on using data from the ICESat-2/ATLAS spaceborne lidar sensor, a photon-counting altimetry system, to map the forest canopy cover over a large country extent. The study proposed a novel approach to compute categorized canopy cover using photon-counting data and available ancillary Landsat images to build the canopy cover model.

Modeling and monitoring riparian buffer zones using LiDAR data in South Carolina.

Functional riparian areas protect water quality and conserve aquatic systems, plants, and wildlife. Laser-based remote sensing technology offers a high-resolution approach to both characterize and document changes in riparian buffer zones (RBZs). The objectives of this study were to demonstrate a rapid method and model to calculate riparian buffer widths on both sides of a stream using a LiDAR-derived slope variable, to classify riparian buffers and determine their quality, and to evaluate the appropriateness of using LiDAR in riparian buffer assessment.

Habitat suitability model with maximum entropy approach for European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the Black Sea Region.

Evaluating the relationships between wildlife species and their habitats helps to predict effects of habitat change for present and future management of wild animal populations. Building ecological models are good ways to understand and manage wildlife populations and to predict various environmental scenarios. Recently, management of ungulates is becoming more important in Europe due to a high demand of hunting and their role in biodiversity.