Amazon Rainforest LiDAR Point Clouds for Forest Biomass Analysis

LiDAR point cloud data captures forest canopy structure across key research sites in the Brazilian Amazon from 2008 to 2018. Collected for the Sustainable Landscapes Brazil Project, the data is georeferenced, noise-filtered, and provided in 1 km² tiles. The dataset is managed by ORNL_CLOUD and is available on multiple government data platforms.

Use Cases

• Analyzing forest canopy height and structure using 3D point coordinates.
• Monitoring changes in forest biomass and carbon stocks over the 10-year time series.
• Modeling terrain elevation and land surface characteristics from georeferenced points.
• Assessing the impact and recovery from selective logging activities in the Amazon.

Strengths

• Data covers a 10-year time series (2008-2018) for longitudinal analysis of forest recovery.
• Point clouds are processed, including georeferencing, noise-filtering, and misalignment correction.
• Surveys target key field research sites across nine Brazilian states, providing regional coverage.
• Availability on multiple authoritative platforms (NASA Earthdata, Data.gov) signals importance and reliability.

Limitations

• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist: one source states 2018-12-31, while others state 2026-03-13.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and detailed column/attribute names are not provided by any source.

Provenance

Source

ORNL_CLOUD for the Sustainable Landscapes Brazil Project.

Collection Method

Airborne LiDAR surveys over selected forest research sites, with data processed into 1 km² tiles.

Time Range

2008 to 2018

Freshness

2026-03-13 00:56:31.373480

Geography

Forest research sites across Brazilian states: Acre, Amazonas, Bahia, Goias, Mato Grosso, Para, Rondonia, Santa Catarina, and Sao Paulo.