Development and Testing of a Tree Height Measurement Device

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Abstract
Tree height is a key indicator in forest resource inventories, playing a vital role in evaluating forest resources, carbon stocks, and biomass. However, conventional tree height measurement methods often suffer from limitations such as inadequate accuracy and low efficiency. This paper proposes a portable tree height measurement device based on the integration of ultra-wideband (UWB) technology and an accelerometer, enabling high-precision, low-cost, and rapid tree height measurements. The device adopts a modular design, integrating a UWB ranging sensor, a triaxial accelerometer, a main control unit, and wireless communication modules. It acquires precise distance information via the double-sided two-way ranging (DS-TWR) algorithm and computes tree height by incorporating the pitch angle measured by the accelerometer. Through measurements on 80 trees of various species, compared to results from Total Station, the root mean square error (RMSE) was 0.621 m, with an overall bias of 0.104 m (0.79%) and an overall device accuracy of 95.75%. Additionally, the device features real-time data transmission and cloud storage capabilities, offering an efficient and convenient technical solution for the digital management of forest resources. It holds promising application prospects in areas such as forest resource inventories, ecological monitoring, and forestry production management.
Funding Information
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (42001354, 2018C02013, 2024R412B048, LHYFZ2308, 2023LFR099)
  • Zhejiang Provincial Key Science and Technology Project (42001354, 2018C02013, 2024R412B048, LHYFZ2308, 2023LFR099)
  • Zhejiang University Student Science and Technology Innovation Activity Plan (New Seedling Talent Plan Subsidy Project) (42001354, 2018C02013, 2024R412B048, LHYFZ2308, 2023LFR099)
  • Modern Agriculture and Forestry Artificial Intelligence Industry College Joint School-Enterprise Project (42001354, 2018C02013, 2024R412B048, LHYFZ2308, 2023LFR099)
  • Zhejiang A&F University Research and Development Fund (42001354, 2018C02013, 2024R412B048, LHYFZ2308, 2023LFR099)

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