GLMETRICS and Amazon Forest Inventory: Lidar and Biophysical Data

From 2009 to 2018, this dataset combines airborne lidar-derived forest structure metrics with detailed on-the-ground tree measurements from the Brazilian Amazon. The G-LiHT mission provides over 80 raster layers of lidar height and density metrics at a 13-meter resolution for North American and Amazonian forests. Ground inventory data includes tree species, dimensions, coordinates, and biomass estimates for selected Amazon research sites.

Use Cases

• Estimating aboveground biomass using tree diameter and height measurements from forest inventories.
• Modeling canopy structure and terrain using lidar-derived metrics like Canopy Height Models (CHM) and Digital Terrain Models (DTM).
• Analyzing forest composition and species distribution based on family, common, and scientific names provided for each tree.
• Calibrating airborne lidar metrics with ground-truthed biophysical measurements from co-located research sites.

Strengths

• Provides a multi-year time series of forest measurements from 2009 to 2018.
• Integrates detailed ground inventory data (e.g., DBH, species names) with over 80 layers of airborne lidar metrics.
• Covers a broad geographic area including the Brazilian Amazon, Conterminous US, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

Limitations

• Metadata conflicts exist: one source lists a last update in 2026, while another suggests data collection ended in 2018.
• The G-LiHT raster product has known issues with missing valid Fill Value, No Data Value, Valid Range, or Scaling Factor metadata.
• Column names and precise row counts are not provided, limiting immediate understanding of data structure.

Provenance

Source

G-LiHT mission (NASA Goddard) and Sustainable Landscapes Brazil Project.

Collection Method

Airborne lidar, hyperspectral, and thermal imaging combined with ground-based forest inventory sampling.

Time Range

2009-2018

Freshness

2026-04-10 03:13:42.469149

Geography

Brazilian Amazon (inventory data); Conterminous US, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Mexico (G-LiHT flights)