Validation of a functional-structural tree model using terrestrial Lidar data

We compared the spatial output of the functional-structural tree growth model recently presented by Beyer et al. (2017) to empirical tree crowns of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) obtained via terrestrial laser scanning. Simulations are found to be morphologically similar to the observed 3D data in terms of size and shape, as well as, quantitatively, contained withing its standard range. We argue that Lidar data provides an unprecedented degree of information on tree geometry compared to traditional forest inventory measurements, and can thus greatly contribute to the parameterisation and validation of tree growth models.