CAREER: 3DForests: Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning To Explore Forest Structure Changes Following Disturbance

Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park CA

Investigators

Abstract

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2). While fire is an important ecological process in the western United States, wildfire has increased over recent decades as a result of climate change, historical fire suppression, and lack of adequate fuels management. Due to the urgency to protect life and property, this work will use state-of-the-art technology (ground-based lasers) to collect information about forests that will help inform and support both forest health management and active fire operations in California. In addition, research findings related to wildfire will be used to create virtual reality-based activities that will be used to improve retention and graduation rates of students in STEM majors. These novel data-driven and accessible educational products will also be presented at a local nature preserve and for 4th-6th graders to allow broad audiences to better understand interactions between forests and wildfire. The goals of this project are to: 1) Use terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and handheld mobile laser scanning to estimate understory forest structure parameters, determine impacts of forest structure on past wildfire intensity, and predict how altered forest structure affects future wildfire risk; and 2) Link temporal changes in net primary productivity to disturbance via a scaling model parameterized with TLS-collected biomass, measured leaf traits and climate data. This work also aims to use research findings related to wildfire to expand opportunities for students. This will be accomplished through: 1) Mentoring undergraduate and graduate students to create a virtual "field trip" focused on forest structure for an ecology course-based undergraduate research experience and NSF-funded "The Virtual Field" platform; and 2) Adapting the “field trip” for public outreach at a local nature preserve and for 4th-6th graders using virtual reality (VR). Data collected will enable crucial characterization of ecosystem changes post-wildfire and assessment of forest sensitivity to cumulative disturbances and advance the predictability of ecological science. In addition, VR activities will broaden participation in field learning. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.