The results of this study show that laser scanning is able to provide data which can be used to achieve reliable forest inventory results for eucalyptus plantations. Due to the small diameter of tree crowns the modeling of individual trees is very limited. A single tree detection provided the number of trees per stand with individual heights. Based on this information it was possible to find relations which allowed the estimation of the dbh for each tree. In combination with the tree heights it was now possible to estimate the timber volume for each stand. The verification of the results showed a correctness of 93 %. An explanation for this deviation may be the time gap between laser scanner data acquisition and harvesting where the reference timber volume was determined by the saw mill and the underestimation of the detected trees .
All developed methods were implemented as part of the Joanneum Research image processing tool box IMPACT. An automatic calculation of the timber volume could be established using GIS data for the stands, laser raw data and a DTM as an input. To improve the method further inventories at different sites are required to test if the set up of the algorithm is a generally valid approach which is able to produce reliable results for different age classes and growing conditions.
The results of statistical approaches with sample plots can not be used as reference for a verification since this data has a lower accuracy then the approach based on laser scanning. Therefore a intensive field campaign is required unless the eucalyptus is harvested soon after the laser scanner data capture.