Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Based Carbon Sink Estimation in Bamboo and Urban Forests
Zhan Y.X.(a), Zhang Y.J. (b), Chen J.C. (c*), Wei C.H. (d), Shiau Y. (e), Huang W.H. (e), Hsu I.N. (e), Chang C.Y. (e), and Lai J.C. (e)

a) Lecturer-level Researcher, R&D Center / Ph.D. Student, Doctoral Program in Bioresources, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST), Taiwan
b) Research Assistant, Department of Forestry / College of Agriculture, NPUST, Taiwan
c) Professor, Department of Forestry / College of Agriculture, NPUST, Taiwan
d) Associate Professor, Department of Forestry / College of Agriculture, NPUST, Taiwan
e) Department of Network Technology, Telecommunication Training Institute, Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd., Taiwan, R.O.C.
*Correspondence: janchang17[at]gmail.com

Abstract

In this study, we focus on two types of landscape, urban forest and bamboo forest, carbon sink potential assessment. We combined UAV remote sensing techniques and ground survey to establish carbon storage estimation model. We aim bamboo forest in Fuxing District, Taoyuan City and urban forest in Chunghwa Telecom Academic Kaohsiung. We set up ground survey plots to measure diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height and tree species identification in these two places to establish procedure and model feasibility. We use drone (Matrice 300 RTK) with optical sensor payload by Structure from Motion (SFM) and Multi View Stereo (MVS) methods to build Canopy Height Model (CHM). We combine above ground biomass (AGB) and aerial forest stocking model by spatial location georeferencing to retrieve estimation value. Further, we estimate carbon storage with IPCC conversion factors and assess regression verification and model bias. The results display urban forest investigating 532 trees and brushes with 64.58 t C (236.79 t CO&#8322-) and Phyllostachys makinoi bamboo forest demonstrating 4,299 bamboos with ABG 1,262.02 t and carbon storage 567.91 t C by 30 ground survey plots. We can save the investigation cost by using drones and it still shows good accuracy and practicality. That means UAV can be a good assist tool to estimate carbon sink value.

Keywords: UAV, carbon storage, bamboo forest, urban forest, Structure from Motion

Topic: Topic B: Applications of Remote Sensing