Inversion of leaf area index based on small-footprint waveform airborne LIDAR

In order to study the detection of vertical structure information of vegetation, a simulation of LIDAR return waveform based on the single scattering of crown reflectance model and the Gaussian character of incidence and return waveform was proposed. The corresponding inversed method was established to calculate the crop leaf area density and leaf area index. The sensitivity analysis illustrated G function had a larger impact on inversed results than soil and leaf reflectivity. Finally, the data of Water (Watershed Airborne Telemetry Experimental Research) was used to validate this method. The results showed that the inversed leaf area density was consistent with the field measurement data, and the relative error of the inversed LAI was 12.5%. Therefore, this method can provide a new way to detect the vegetation structural parameters.