This function takes as input a four column .CSV file or data frame of x, y, z, and VAI
(Vegetation Area Index) derived from 3-D (TLS) LiDAR data. Currently, this function only
analyzes a single slice from the inputed TLS data set. VAI is calculated externally
by the user using user-determined methodology.
The process_tls
function will write multiple output files to disk in an (output)
directory that process_tls
creates within the work directing. These files include:
1. an output variables file that contains a list of CSC variables and is
written by the subfunction write_pcl_to_csv
2. a summary matrix, that includes detailed information on each vertical column of Lidar data
written by the subfunction write_summary_matrix_to_csv
3. a hit matrix, which is a matrix of VAI at each x and z position, written by the
subfunction write_hit_matrix_to_pcl
4. a hit grid, which is a graphical representation of VAI along the x and z coordinate space.
5. optionally, plant area/volume density profiles can be created by including
pavd = TRUE
that include an additional histogram with the optional hist = TRUE
in the
process_pcl
call.