LiDAR-Derived Forest Biomass and Canopy Metrics for New England

New England region data provides 30-meter gridded estimates of aboveground biomass density, forest canopy height, and tree canopy coverage for the nominal year 2015. The dataset, produced by NASA, integrates high-resolution leaf-off LiDAR data from 2010-2015, agricultural imagery, and U.S. Forest Service plot measurements. It supports the development of a cohesive forest carbon accounting system at national and international scales.

Use Cases

• Modeling regional forest carbon stocks using the aboveground biomass density (AGBD) estimates.
• Analyzing forest structure and density with the derived canopy height and tree canopy coverage layers.
• Calibrating and validating spaceborne LiDAR missions with high-resolution, ground-truthed biomass and height data.
• Assessing changes in forest cover and biomass over time when used with other temporal datasets.

Strengths

• Integrates multiple high-quality data sources: 1-meter resolution LiDAR (2010-2015), imagery, and Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plot measurements.
• Provides pixel-level error estimates for aboveground biomass density at a 90% confidence interval.
• Offers a consistent 30-meter gridded product for six U.S. states, enabling regional-scale analysis.

Limitations

• Specific column names and the total row/record count are not provided by any source.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date: one lists 2015-12-31, while another lists 2026-03-13 (likely a metadata update).

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Statistical models linking remote sensing data (LiDAR, imagery) with FIA plot-level measurements at the pixel level.

Time Range

2010 through 2015 (for LiDAR collection), nominal year 2015 for estimates.

Freshness

2026-03-13 01:10:17.222764

Geography

New England Region, U.S., including Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.