Leaf Area Index (LAI)

Leaf Area Index (raw data and attribute metadata) - AusCover super sites

Link to the data

Data licence and Access rights

Abstract or Summary

This dataset contains data obtained using two instruments:

LAI 2200 Plant Canopy Analyzer

The LAI-2200 Plant Canopy Analyzer calculates LAI from radiation measurements collected both above and below the ground below 490 nm with a fisheye optical sensor (148° field-of-view) (LI-COR 2009). The solar radiation is measured at five zenith angles. The device which collects the data (LAI-2250 Optical Sensor or wand) then projects the image onto five concentric rings (LI-COR 2009). LAI estimates are based on four assumptions: (a) the foliage is black (no radiation is transmitted or reflected by the vegetation); (b) the foliage elements are small in comparison to the area of view of each sensor ring and the following guideline is applied: the distance between the sensor and the nearest leaf above it should be at least four times the width of the leaf (LI-COR 2009: 1-7); (c) the foliage is randomly distributed; and (d) the foliage is aziumuthally randomly orientated, in other words, leaves face all directions (LI-COR 2009).

The dataset consists of:

• Shapefile of LAI metadata
• Raw LAI files
• Field data collection protocol
• Shapefile attribute metadata

Spatial and Temporal extents

Point of contact

Credit

The following organisations took part in the collection of the data:

• Curtin University
• Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Keywords

Data quality

Positional accuracy of the data varies with site and GPS available. See the data shapefile attributes for specific details.

Validation status

Data has been validated for positional accuracy and basic quality control. 

Related products

References

Product version history

Metadata history