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Updated: Jan 8, 2026

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Collecting and Processing Drone-based Remotely Sensed Data for Use in Forest Recovery Monitoring
Published on: October 24, 2025
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A large dataset of labelled single tree point clouds, QSMs and tree graphs
Nils Griese1, Martin Ritzert2, Nils Nölke3
1Department of Forest Inventory and Remote Sensing, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. nils.griese@uni-goettingen.de.
Scientific Data
|December 16, 2025
Summary
A new dataset, BioDiv-3DTrees, offers high-resolution 3D tree data for 19 species. This resource aids forest monitoring, ecological research, and biomass estimation using advanced scanning techniques.
Area of Science:
- Forestry
- Ecology
- Remote Sensing
Background:
- High-resolution individual tree data is crucial for forest monitoring and ecological studies.
- Existing datasets often lack detailed 3D structural information.
- Advancements in laser scanning technologies enable new data acquisition methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the BioDiv-3DTrees dataset, a comprehensive collection of 3D tree data.
- To provide a valuable resource for forest inventory, biomass estimation, and ecological research.
- To facilitate algorithm development and data fusion in forest remote sensing.
Main Methods:
- Collected 4,952 individual tree point clouds using Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Laser Scanning (ULS).
- Generated 3,386 Quantitative Structure Models (QSMs) and graph representations for 14 broadleafed species.
- Integrated laser scanning data with existing open-access forest inventory data (species, DBH, height).
Main Results:
- The BioDiv-3DTrees dataset contains detailed 3D point clouds and QSMs for 19 tree species.
- QSMs were validated against point clouds for accuracy in tree height, DBH, and crown projection area.
- The dataset links 3D structural data with traditional forest inventory attributes.
Conclusions:
- BioDiv-3DTrees offers a reliable and scalable resource for the forest science and remote sensing communities.
- The dataset supports diverse applications, including biomass estimation and tree structure analysis.
- This data facilitates the integration of detailed 3D information with conventional forest inventory methods.

