Kookmin University and Korea National Arboretum develop LiDAR technology to measure tree carbon storage without damage

A collaborative research effort between Kookmin University and the Korea National Arboretum has yielded a groundbreaking technology for measuring tree carbon storage without causing harm. Led by Professor Kang Wan-mo of Kookmin University's Department of Forest Environment Systems and researchers from the National Tree Seed Bank and Arboretum's Urban Biodiversity Conservation Division, the team has refined the use of ground LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging).

Following a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2024 focused on developing technologies to enhance carbon absorption in urban forests, the joint research has progressed significantly. After developing a drone LiDAR-based prediction model for carbon storage in garden trees last year, the team has now enhanced ground LiDAR technology for more precise measurements of carbon storage in urban trees. This year's research focused on four major species planted in the National Tree Seed Bank and Arboretum and urban gardens: Zelkova serrata, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Pinus densiflora, and Aesculus hippocastanum.

The researchers utilized ground LiDAR equipment to non-invasively measure tree height, trunk diameter, and branch volume. They then applied the Quantitative Structure Model (QSM) technique to reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of the trees based on the collected point cloud data. This process allowed for the precise geometric representation of complex trunks and branches, enabling non-destructive calculation of individual tree volume and highly accurate estimation of above-ground biomass and carbon storage.

This technology holds significant value as it can be applied to urban green spaces with complex structures and diverse tree species, such as arboretums, gardens, and small urban forests. It is anticipated to be instrumental in objectively verifying the carbon absorption capabilities of these vital green areas. Hwang Se-yeon, a graduate student at Kookmin University who led the research, noted the limitations of previous methods for urban settings and highlighted that this study establishes a foundation for automating the entire process, from tree structure extraction to carbon storage calculation, even in diverse urban green spaces.

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The living garden has diverse growing environments and management methods, making it difficult to accurately estimate carbon storage using existing relative growth formulas developed for forest land. This study is significant in that it lays the groundwork for applying the process from tree structure extraction to carbon storage estimation automatically, even in urban green spaces with complex spatial structures and varied tree shapes.