Mapping percent canopy cover using individual tree- and area-based procedures that are based on airborne LiDAR data: Case study from an oak-hickory-pine forest in the USA

• Canopy cover is the proportion of the forest floor covered by the vertical projection of the tree crowns. • A framework is presented for creating canopy cover maps using only aerial LiDAR data. • Both individual tree- and area-based approaches are capable of creating sufficiently accurate canopy cover maps. • Canopy cover maps can be instrumental for various operational tasks in forestry, such as fire and habitat management. Canopy cover (CC) is the proportion of a forest floor covered by the vertical projection of tree crowns. Recently, it has become common to utilize LiDAR (light detection and ranging) canopy metrics to estimate CC over large areas. However, these metrics are primarily related to canopy density rather than the specific definition of CC. Here, two processes that employed individual tree segmentation (ITS) and area-based procedures based on LiDAR data are presented to estimate CC across the Talladega Division of the Talladega National Forest (93,694 ha) at the plot, stand, and landscape levels. The two analytical procedures were assessed using the results of a plot/grid method as a reference dataset, which focused on CC estimates within 255 field measurement fixed-area sample plots. The accuracy of a third process, employing an imagery-based visual CC assessment, was also compared against the two procedures and the reference dataset. The LiDAR-based analytical procedures were able to provide estimates of CC with an RMSE of approximately 15 %, which is acceptable for landscape-level assessments. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that CC maps, when created using LiDAR data, may be suitable for various operational tasks such as assessing the impact of forest disturbances and helping to determine the habitat suitability for certain wildlife species.