Relationships between Satellite-Based Spectral Burned Ratios and Terrestrial Laser Scanning

A negative linear relationship was found between spectral burned ratios derived from Landsat satellite images and vegetation density measured by terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) in unburned plots, with R² values of 0.45 to 0.47, while a non-linear relationship (R² = 0.56–0.59) was observed in burned plots for ground surface strata (0–0.5 m). This study introduces TLS as an objective validation tool for spectral indices, offering a more precise method than traditional visual assessments or satellite-based severity measurements. Conducted in Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada, the research used TLS-generated 3D data converted to voxels, revealing links between spectral changes and shrub development (unburned plots) or post-fire vegetation recovery (burned plots). As TLS becomes more accessible, this approach promises improved ecological assessments for fire-affected areas.

Kato, A., Moskal, L. M., Batchelor, J. L., Thau, D., & Hudak, A. T. (2019). Relationships between Satellite-Based Spectral Burned Ratios and Terrestrial Laser Scanning. Forests, 10(5), 444. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10050444