Detailed Record



Evaluation of machine learning methods and multi-source remote sensing data combinations to construct forest above-ground biomass models


Abstract Rapid and accurate estimation of forest biomass are essential to drive sustainable management of forests. Field-based measurements of forest above-ground biomass (AGB) can be costly and difficult to conduct. Multi-source remote sensing data offers the potential to improve the accuracy of modelled AGB predictions. Here, four machine learning methods: Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT), Classification and Regression Trees (CART), and Minimum Distance (MD) were used to construct forest AGB models of Taiyue Mountain forest, Shanxi Province, China using single and multi-sourced remote sensing data and the Google Earth Engine platform. Results showed that the machine learning method that most accurately predicted AGB were GBDT and spectral index for coniferous (R2 = 0.99; RMSE = 65.52 Mg/ha), broadleaved (R2 = 0.97; RMSE = 29.14 Mg/ha), and mixed-species (R2 = 0.97; RMSE = 81.12 Mg/ha) forest types. Models constructed using bivariate variable combinations that included the spectral index improved the AGB estimation accuracy of mixed-species (R2 = 0.99; RMSE = 59.52 Mg/ha) forest types and reduced slightly the accuracy of coniferous (R2 = 0.99; RMSE = 101.46 Mg/ha) and broadleaved (R2 = 0.97; RMSE = 37.59 Mg/ha) forest AGB estimation. Overall, parameterizing machine learning algorithms with multi-source remote sensing variables can improve the prediction accuracy of mixed-species forests.
Authors Xingguang Yan ORCID , Jing Li ORCID , Andy Smith ORCID , Di Yang University of WyomingORCID , Tianyue Ma ORCID , Yiting Su ORCID , Jiahao Shao ORCID
Journal Info Taylor & Francis | International Journal of Digital Earth , vol: 16 , iss: 2 , pages: 4471 - 4491
Publication Date 11/1/2023
ISSN 1753-8947
TypeKeyword Image article
Open Access gold Gold Access
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/17538947.2023.2270459
KeywordsKeyword Image Global Forest Mapping (Score: 0.579847) , Tree Height Estimation (Score: 0.568948) , Biomass Estimation (Score: 0.555596) , Forest Site Productivity (Score: 0.546156) , Tree Height-Diameter Models (Score: 0.53098)