Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS) waveform data provides images of sub-canopy topography, canopy height, and vertical structure. The dataset captures selected areas of Costa Rica, including Braulio Carillo National Park and La Selva Station, from a 2005 airborne survey. It was collected by NASA's LVIS system, which has been operational since 1997.
Use Cases
- Estimate above-ground carbon stocks from biomass data and canopy height metrics.
- Model surface roughness and terrain using earth topography (bare ground) measurements.
- Analyze canopy vertical structure and entropy from waveform-based lidar returns.
- Map forest canopy height and sub-canopy topography for ecological zone comparison.
Strengths
- Provides multiple derived data products: topography, canopy structure, biomass, and surface roughness.
- Uses waveform-based lidar technology, capturing detailed vertical structure information.
- Covers multiple distinct Costa Rican ecosystems: national parks, biological stations, and a volcano.
Limitations
- Data is from a single collection year (2005), limiting temporal analysis.
- Spatial coverage is limited to selected areas within Costa Rica, not a complete survey.
- Specific sample size, row count, and file formats are unknown.
Provenance
- Source
- NASA's Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS) via NASA Earthdata.
- Collection Method
- Airborne lidar waveform survey.
- Time Range
- 2005
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Selected areas in Costa Rica, including Braulio Carillo National Park, La Selva Biological Station, Turrialba, Arenal volcano, and Palo Verde Biological Station.