Smartphone-based LiDAR. Can this tool be used to map the trees that sustain Costa Rica's forests?

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN" style="color:#01182d">Overview of Module: <a name="_Hlk131867983"></a></span></b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><b>1) Content</b><span style="color:blue">. </span>Students will learn what LiDAR technology is, with an emphasis on its recent integration into high-end smartphones, and how to use these devices as tools for forest measurement. Basic concepts of forest inventories will also be covered, and the comparison between methodologies will be analyzed using statistical parameters.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><b>2) Activities.</b> Students will work with various point clouds of trees scanned at the study site, which they will be able to visualize, explore, and use to perform measurements on three-dimensional models. Additionally, a general introduction will be provided on the statistical comparison between traditional forest measurement instruments and the use of smartphones with LiDAR technology. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><b>3) Impact.</b> The student will explore the use of technological tools with applications in various fields and will address fundamental concepts such as precision and accuracy, which are essential in science and engineering. Additionally, basic notions about the comparison of methodologies using statistical parameters will be introduced.</span></span></span></p> <h3> </h3> <h3><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="vertical-align:top"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="color:#434343"><span style="font-weight:normal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt">Learning Objectives:</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></h3> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="tab-stops:.25in"><span style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="color:black">Explore the potential of mobile LiDAR technology for forest inventories and compare it with traditional field methods.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="tab-stops:.25in"><span style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="color:black">Identify situations where 3D point clouds can enhance the understanding of forest structure and support ecological research.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="tab-stops:.25in"><span style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="color:black">Learn best practices for using a smartphone-based LiDAR to measure trees under diverse field conditions.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span arial="" lang="EN" style="font-family:"><strong>Translation:</strong> This module is available in Spanish.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><strong><span arial="" lang="EN" style="font-family:">Support was provided by:</span></strong> A grant from the United States National Science Foundation (DBI-RCN-UBE 2120141).</span></span></span></p>