Joint hierarchical models for sparsely sampled high-dimensional LiDAR and forest variables

Authors

Andrew O. Finley, Michigan State University
Sudipto Banerjee, University of California, Los Angeles
Yuzhen Zhou, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Bruce D. Cook, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Chad Babcock, University of Washington

Date of this Version

2017

Citation

Remote Sensing of Environment 190 (2017), pp. 149–161. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2016.12.004.

Comments

U.S. government work.

Abstract

Recent advancements in remote sensing technology, specifically Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, provide the data needed to quantify forest characteristics at a fine spatial resolution over large geographic domains. From an inferential standpoint, there is interest in prediction and interpolation of the often sparsely sampled and spatially misaligned LiDAR signals and forest variables. We propose a fully process-based Bayesian hierarchical model for above ground biomass (AGB) and LiDAR signals. The processbased framework offers richness in inferential capabilities, e.g., inference on the entire underlying processes instead of estimates only at pre-specified points. Key challenges we obviate include misalignment between the AGB observations and LiDAR signals and the high-dimensionality in the model emerging from LiDAR signals in conjunction with the large number of spatial locations. We offer simulation experiments to evaluate our proposed models and also apply them to a challenging dataset comprising LiDAR and spatially coinciding forest inventory variables collected on the Penobscot Experimental Forest (PEF), Maine. Our key substantive contributions include AGB data products with associated measures of uncertainty for the PEF and, more broadly, a methodology that should find use in a variety of current and upcoming forest variable mapping efforts using sparsely sampled remotely sensed high-dimensional data.