Stem Quality Estimates Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning Voxelized Data and a Voting-Based Branch Detection Algorithm

Abstract

A new algorithm for detecting branch attachments on stems based on a voxel approach and line object detection by a voting procedure is introduced. This algorithm can be used to evaluate the quality of stems by giving the branch density of each standing tree. The detected branches were evaluated using field-sampled trees. The algorithm detected 63% of the total amount of branch whorls and 90% of the branch whorls attached in the height interval from 0 to 10 m above ground. The suggested method could be used to create maps of forest stand stem quality data.