Apulian researchers winners of the 2017 HxGN LIVE EDU Contest

In 2015, the HxGN LIVE EDU contest started with the goal of engaging some of the brightest geospatial minds and working with them to discover how they are employing Hexagon Geospatial software in their research.

The contest had a resounding response, with 22 submissions from 7 countries across the globe. The winning research is the one submitted by Vincenzo Giannico (PhD student) and his Advisor Prof. Raffaele Lafortezza from the University of Bari, Italy, in cooperation with Michigan State University, for their research in biomass estimation in urban areas from LiDAR.

This group of researchers developed an innovative methodology for the biomass estimation in urban areas from LiDAR (laser scanner) data and the results were published in the Remote Sensing (April 2016) magazine. The study was made over an urban forest plantation located in the metropolitan area of Milan, Northern Italy: Parco Nord Milano. The analysis processes were conducted using Hexagon Geospatial software. The methodology developed includes two main steps: data production and modeling. LiDAR classification, orthorectification of multispectral imagery, DTM extraction, and quality control were some of the functionalities used in ERDAS IMAGINE. Statistics from the results of ERDAS IMAGINE were used in conjunction with statistical analysis open source software to derive the results. Through the development of ad hoc mathematical models, it was possible to estimate the amount of biomass present in the study area. This study has great potential for future applications in the estimation of carbon sinks in urban areas.

The winning researchers have been invited next June in Las Vegas, Nevada, to to present their research to a wide variety of thought leaders and influencers in a special breakout session during the HxGN Live 2017 conference.

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