EarthDefine, a provider of high-resolution spatial data products, has created a seamless tree canopy dataset that maps Minnesota’s trees in unprecedented detail. The Minnesota SpatialCover Tree Canopy dataset maps trees with 98% accuracy and 30 times the resolution of existing state level datasets for Minnesota. This 1-meter resolution dataset will enable users to accurately measure […]
EarthDefine, a provider of high-resolution spatial data products, has created a seamless tree canopy dataset that maps Minnesota’s trees in unprecedented detail. The Minnesota SpatialCover Tree Canopy dataset maps trees with 98% accuracy and 30 times the resolution of existing state level datasets for Minnesota. This 1-meter resolution dataset will enable users to accurately measure and understand tree cover at regional and local levels, especially in mixed urban and agricultural landscapes.
EarthDefine used multiple terabytes of color infrared imagery flown in the summer of 2013 along with three-dimensional point cloud data from LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) available for most of Minnesota to create the seamless tree cover dataset. The LIDAR data was also used to create a Canopy Height Model (CHM) dataset that maps canopy heights across 73 counties in the state.
That is impressive.
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Gene V. Roe founded Lidar News in 2008 with two family members and is the founder of MPN Components, Inc., a geomatics consulting firm specializing in applied research, strategic marketing, branding, and technology development. As both a Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor, Gene has dedicated his career to advancing the field of geomatics and currently serves as Chair of the ASTM 3D Imaging Systems committee, where he led the development of the widely adopted E57 3D lidar data interoperability format. He has long been a thought leader in the adoption of transformative technologies, including CAD, GIS, GPS, and 3D laser scanning and lidar, primarily supporting innovation in the transportation industry.
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