This dataset contains point cloud data (a set of data points in a 3D coordinate system) which were collected using a RIEGL miniVUX1-DL LiDAR scanner mounted on a DELAIR DT26X Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The data was collected in June 2022 as part of the ForestScan project. The person responsible for the data collection was Dr. Iain McNicol from the University of Edinburgh, who collected and processed the data.

This dataset contains complete merged point clouds (.laz) per acquisition flight, derived raster products in .tif georeferenced format, Digital surface models (.DSM), Canopy height models (.CHM) and Digital terrain models (.DTM). The data is from multiple drone flights over different plots in Paracou French Guiana. All products are the following projection EPSG:2972 RGFG95 and UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) zone 22N. Different scanning scenarios should allow for sensitivity analyses with respect to: (i) scanning altitude (above the LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) derived DTM, either in terrain follow mode (AGL) or at constant altitude (AMSL) (ii) scanning pattern main orientation Over Plot 6 (P6): two different scan altitudes are available (80m AGL and 145m AMSL ~ 125 AGL), as well as different flight pattern main directions (75°, 345°, 120°, 165°) Over Plots 4 and 5 (P4 & P5): altitude = 110m AMSL ~ 90m AGL, flight directions = 345° Over PCNES & Tower: altitude = 105m AMSL ~ 80m AGL and 80m AGL, flight directions = 0° and 90° Over P8: altitude = 105m AMSL ~ 80m AGL, flight directions = 75° and 345° Information on the individual drone flights and directory location can be found below in the following format: Country\Zone\Pilot\Scanner\Date\Flight\Flight (delivery)\Freq mirror rot (Hz)\Interline(m)\Direction (°)\Speed(m/s)\Alt(m) directory location- XX/XX French Guiana\Paracou \P6\NB\VX20021\18/10/2019\YS-20191018-124006\V1\20\20\345\5t80 AGL directory location - CIRAD_Plot_P6_80mAGL/V1 French Guiana\Paracou\P6\NB\VX20021\18/10/2019\tYS-20191018-131043\V2\20\20\345\5\80 AGL directory location - CIRAD_Plot_P6_80mAGL/V2 French Guiana\Paracou\P6\NB\VX20021\18/10/2019\YS-20191018-183057\V3\20\20\120\t5\80 AGL directory location - CIRAD_Plot_P6_80mAGL/V3 French Guiana\Paracou\P6\NB\VX20021\18/10/2019\YS-20191018-185416\V4\20\20\120\5\80 AGL directory location - CIRAD_Plot_P6_80mAGL/V4 French Guiana\Paracou\P6\NB\VX20021\19/10/2019\YS-20191019-190345\V5\20\20\75\5\80 AGL directory location - CIRAD_Plot_P6_80mAGL/ V5 French Guiana\Paracou\P6\NB\VX20021\18/10/2019\YS-20191018-200932\V1\20\20\165\5\145 amsl directory location - CIRAD_Plot_P6_145_amsl/V1 French Guiana\Paracou\P6\NB\VX20021\19/10/2019\YS-20191019-115917\V2\20\20\75\5\145 amsl directory location - CIRAD_Plot_P6_145_amsl/V2 French Guiana\Paracou\P4&5\NB\VX20021\19/10/2019\YS-20191019-172347\20\50\345\5\100 amsl directory location - CIRAD_Plot_4_5/ French Guiana\Paracou\Tower\NB\VX20021\19/10/2019\YS-20191019-162557\V1\20\50\0\5\80 AGL directory location - IRD_CNES_Plot1_and_Flux_Tower_area/V1 French Guiana\Paracou\Tower\NB\VX20021\19/10/2019\YS-20191019-181021\V2\20\50\90\5\105 amsl directory location - IRD_CNES_Plot1_and_Flux_Tower_area/V2 French Guiana\Paracou\P8\NB\VX20021\20/10/2019\YS-20191020-113907\20\50\75&345\5\105 amsl directory location - CIRAD_Plot_P8 The data was gathered to support the systematic collection and understanding of reference data for biomass product validation. The CEOS Good Practices Guideline can be found in the documentation section.

This Aerial Laser Scanning (ALS) campaign was conducted in November 2022. The ALS data corresponding to plots FG5c1, FG6c2, FG8c4 and IRD-CNES also scanned by Terrestrial LiDAR Scanning (TLS) in October or November 2022 as part of the ForestScan Project are provided in four separate laz files. The covered area: 3*2.16 ha + 1*1.44 ha; Pulse density: ~200 m2; Scanner type: VQ 780II RIEGL; Scanner wavelength: 1064 nm; Beam divergence: <=0.25 mrad (1/e2); Vehicle: Airplane BN2; Operator: Altoa. Acquisition parameters: swath angle: +/-20 degrees; PRR (channel type): ~ 1000 kHz; Ground footprint size of pulse: ~0.16 m; Flight height: 650m terrain follow mode (AGL); Acquisition mode: Full waveform, RGB camera on board but no orthomosaïc made.

This dataset contains LiDAR scanning derived products (raw scanner data, geo-located point clouds, individual 3D tree models) collected over the north-eastern part (200 m x 200 m) of FBRMS-01: Paracou, French Guiana plot 6. The campaign took place from the 10th of October to the 15th of November 2019. Terrestrial LiDAR Scanning (TLS) was conducted on a regular grid with spacing of 10 m with a RIEGL VZ-400 scanner and retro-reflective targets for scan registration. Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle Laser Scanning (UAV-LS) was conducted with a RIEGL Ricopter with VUX-SYS VUX-1UAV system with varying flight heights and flight directions. The TLS point clouds were collected to produce explicit 3D models of individual trees and subsequently estimate their above-ground biomass (AGB). The UAV-LS point clouds were collected to test scanner settings and inspect point clouds properties, in particular with regard to their suitability to model individual trees and their AGB. The campaign was conducted by researchers Benjamin Brede, Harm Bartholomeus and Alvaro Lau of the Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing of Wageningen University & Research (The Netherlands) with support from Nicolas Barbier of AMAP Lab (Botany and Modeling of Plant Architecture and Vegetation).

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was conducted at three ForestScan 1ha (100m x 100m) Forest Biomass Reference Measurement Site (FBRMS) plots in Malaysia during March 2017 by Mathias Disney using a Riegl VZ-400 scanner. Data collection assistance was provided by postdocs Dr Phil Wilkes, Dr Andy Burt and Dr Toby Jackson and a local team of field assistants. Data processing was performed by Dr Cecilia Chavana-Bryant with assistance provided by Mr Peter Vines. This data collection was part of the European Space Agency (ESA) funded ForestScan project designed to improve the use of new Earth Observation (EO) estimates of above ground biomass (AGB) by providing TLS-, unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV-LS)- and airborne (ALS) LiDAR scanning-derived AGB and tree census data to compare to allometric and EO-derived estimates. Scans were acquired using chain sampling at 121 locations along a 10m Cartesian grid to ensure sufficient data overlap to produce high-quality point clouds for all ForestScan 1ha FBRMS plots. Due to the scanner's 100° field of view, capturing a complete sample of the scene at each scan location required two scans -an upright scan and a tilt scan. Upright scans are odd-numbered while tilt scans are even-numbered. The first scan at each plot is collected at the southwest corner, i.e. scan position 0,0 (unless something impedes it, e.g. stream, large tree fall, etc. or if the plot is oriented differently). To facilitate scan registration, five retro-reflective targets were located between scan positions with all tilt scans along the first sampling line were oriented towards the same sampling position along the next sampling line and tilt scans at the ends of sampling lines (i.e. tilt scans along plot edges) were oriented towards the inside of the plot. This aids scan registration as it allows tilt scans to capture the previous scan location within its field of view. A total of 242 scans were collected at each plot. The Riegl operating and processing software RiSCAN PRO version 2.14.1 was used to generate a plot-level point cloud, scans were coarse registered using the shared retro-reflective targets located between consecutive scan positions. Coarse registration was then fine-tuned using Multi Station Adjustment 2 (MSA2). Data for each of the three FBRMS plots is found within plot directories: SEP-11, SEP-12 and SEP-30. Plot directories contain a main project directory (named using the starting date of data collection, e.g. 2017-03-20.001.riproject) with nine data subdirectories and a tile_index.dat file as shown in the archived document /neodc/forestscan/data/malaysia/SEP-30/ForestScan_example_data_directory_structure.pdf which details the data structure shared by all FBRSM plot TLS datasets.

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was conducted at three ForestScan 1ha (100m x 100m) Forest Biomass Reference Measurement Site (FBRMS) plots in Malaysia during March 2017 by Mathias Disney using a Riegl VZ-400 scanner. Data collection assistance was provided by postdocs Dr Phil Wilkes, Dr Andy Burt and Dr Toby Jackson and a local team of field assistants. Data processing was performed by Dr Cecilia Chavana-Bryant with assistance provided by Mr Peter Vines. This data collection was part of the European Space Agency (ESA) funded ForestScan project designed to improve the use of new Earth Observation (EO) estimates of above ground biomass (AGB) by providing TLS-, unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV-LS)- and airborne (ALS) LiDAR scanning-derived AGB and tree census data to compare to allometric and EO-derived estimates. Scans were acquired using chain sampling at 121 locations along a 10m Cartesian grid to ensure sufficient data overlap to produce high-quality point clouds for all ForestScan 1ha FBRMS plots. Due to the scanner's 100° field of view, capturing a complete sample of the scene at each scan location required two scans -an upright scan and a tilt scan. Upright scans are odd-numbered while tilt scans are even-numbered. The first scan at each plot is collected at the southwest corner, i.e. scan position 0,0 (unless something impedes it, e.g. stream, large tree fall, etc. or if the plot is oriented differently). To facilitate scan registration, five retro-reflective targets were located between scan positions with all tilt scans along the first sampling line were oriented towards the same sampling position along the next sampling line and tilt scans at the ends of sampling lines (i.e. tilt scans along plot edges) were oriented towards the inside of the plot. This aids scan registration as it allows tilt scans to capture the previous scan location within its field of view. A total of 242 scans were collected at each plot. The Riegl operating and processing software RiSCAN PRO version 2.14.1 was used to generate a plot-level point cloud, scans were coarse registered using the shared retro-reflective targets located between consecutive scan positions. Coarse registration was then fine-tuned using Multi Station Adjustment 2 (MSA2). Data for each of the three FBRMS plots is found within plot directories: SEP-11, SEP-12 and SEP-30. Plot directories contain a main project directory (named using the starting date of data collection, e.g. 2017-03-02.001.riproject) with nine data subdirectories and a tile_index.dat file as shown in the archived document /neodc/forestscan/data/malaysia/SEP-12/ForestScan_example_data_directory_structure.pdf which details the data structure shared by all FBRSM plot TLS datasets.

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was conducted at three ForestScan 1ha (100m x 100m) Forest Biomass Reference Measurement Site (FBRMS) plots in Gabon from June to July 2022 by Cecilia Chavana-Bryant using a Riegl VZ-400i scanner. Data collection assistance was provided by Heddy O. Milamizokou Napo, Luna Soenens and Virginie Daelemans, data processing assistance was provided by Mr Peter Vines. This data collection was part of the European Space Agency (ESA) funded ForestScan project designed to improve the use of new Earth Observation (EO) estimates of above ground biomass (AGB) by providing TLS-, unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV-LS)- and airborne (ALS) LiDAR scanning-derived AGB and tree census data to compare to allometric and EO-derived estimates. Scans were acquired using chain sampling at 121 locations along a 10m Cartesian grid to ensure sufficient data overlap to produce high-quality point clouds for all ForestScan 1ha FBRMS plots. Due to the scanner's 100° field of view, capturing a complete sample of the scene at each scan location required two scans -an upright scan and a tilt scan. Upright scans are odd-numbered while tilt scans are even-numbered. The first scan at each plot is collected at the southwest corner, i.e. scan position 0,0 (unless something impedes it, e.g. stream, large tree fall, etc. or if the plot is oriented differently). To facilitate scan registration, five retro-reflective targets were located between scan positions with all tilt scans along the first sampling line were oriented towards the same sampling position along the next sampling line and tilt scans at the ends of sampling lines (i.e. tilt scans along plot edges) were oriented towards the inside of the plot. This aids scan registration as it allows tilt scans to capture the previous scan location within its field of view. A total of 242 scans were collected at each plot. The Riegl operating and processing software RiSCAN PRO version 2.14.1 was used to generate a plot-level point cloud, scans were coarse registered using the shared retro-reflective targets located between consecutive scan positions. Coarse registration was then fine-tuned using Multi Station Adjustment 2 (MSA2). Data for each of the four FBRMS plots is found within plot directories: LPG-01, OKO-01, OKO-02 and OKO-03. Plot directories contain a main project directory (named using the starting date of data collection, e.g. 2022-07-04_OKO-03.PROJ) with nine data subdirectories and a tile_index.dat file as shown in the archived document /neodc/forestscan/data/gabon/lope/TLS_lope_2022/OKO-03/ForestScan_example_data_directory_structure.pdf which details the data structure shared by all FBRSM plot TLS datasets.

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was conducted at three ForestScan 1ha (100m x 100m) Forest Biomass Reference Measurement Site (FBRMS) plots in French Guiana from September to October 2022 by Cecilia Chavana-Bryant using a Riegl VZ-400i scanner. This data collection was part of the European Space Agency (ESA) funded ForestScan project designed to improve the use of new Earth Observation (EO) estimates of above ground biomass (AGB) by providing TLS-, unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV-LS)- and airborne (ALS) LiDAR scanning-derived AGB and tree census data to compare to allometric and EO-derived estimates. Scans were acquired using chain sampling at 121 locations along a 10m Cartesian grid to ensure sufficient data overlap to produce high-quality point clouds for all ForestScan 1ha FBRMS plots. Due to the scanner's 100° field of view, capturing a complete sample of the scene at each scan location required two scans -an upright scan and a tilt scan. Upright scans are odd-numbered while tilt scans are even-numbered. The first scan at each plot is collected at the southwest corner, i.e. scan position 0,0 (unless something impedes it, e.g. stream, large tree fall, etc. or if the plot is oriented differently). To facilitate scan registration, five retro-reflective targets were located between scan positions with all tilt scans along the first sampling line were oriented towards the same sampling position along the next sampling line and tilt scans at the ends of sampling lines (i.e. tilt scans along plot edges) were oriented towards the inside of the plot. This aids scan registration as it allows tilt scans to capture the previous scan location within its field of view. A total of 242 scans were collected at each plot. The Riegl operating and processing software RiSCAN PRO version 2.14.1 was used to generate a plot-level point cloud, scans were coarse registered using the shared retro-reflective targets located between consecutive scan positions. Coarse registration was then fine-tuned using Multi Station Adjustment 2 (MSA2). Data for each of the three FBRMS plots is found within plot directories: FG5c1, FG6c2 and FG8c4. Plot directories contain a main project directory (named using the starting date of data collection, e.g. 2022-10-18_FG6c2.PROJ) with nine data subdirectories and a tile_index.dat file as shown in the archived document /neodc/forestscan/data/french_guiana/paracou/TLS_Plot_FG6c2/ForestScan_example_data_directory_structure.pdf which details the data structure shared by all FBRSM plot TLS datasets.

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was conducted at three ForestScan 1ha (100m x 100m) Forest Biomass Reference Measurement Site (FBRMS) plots in Malaysia during March 2017 by Mathias Disney using a Riegl VZ-400 scanner. Data collection assistance was provided by postdocs Dr Phil Wilkes, Dr Andy Burt and Dr Toby Jackson and a local team of field assistants. Data processing was performed by Dr Cecilia Chavana-Bryant with assistance provided by Mr Peter Vines. This data collection was part of the European Space Agency (ESA) funded ForestScan project designed to improve the use of new Earth Observation (EO) estimates of above ground biomass (AGB) by providing TLS-, unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV-LS)- and airborne (ALS) LiDAR scanning-derived AGB and tree census data to compare to allometric and EO-derived estimates . Scans were acquired using chain sampling at 121 locations along a 10m Cartesian grid to ensure sufficient data overlap to produce high-quality point clouds for all ForestScan 1ha FBRMS plots. Due to the scanner's 100° field of view, capturing a complete sample of the scene at each scan location required two scans -an upright scan and a tilt scan. Upright scans are odd-numbered while tilt scans are even-numbered. The first scan at each plot is collected at the southwest corner, i.e. scan position 0,0 (unless something impedes it, e.g. stream, large tree fall, etc. or if the plot is oriented differently). To facilitate scan registration, five retro-reflective targets were located between scan positions with all tilt scans along the first sampling line were oriented towards the same sampling position along the next sampling line and tilt scans at the ends of sampling lines (i.e. tilt scans along plot edges) were oriented towards the inside of the plot. This aids scan registration as it allows tilt scans to capture the previous scan location within its field of view. A total of 242 scans were collected at each plot. The Riegl operating and processing software RiSCAN PRO version 2.14.1 was used to generate a plot-level point cloud, scans were coarse registered using the shared retro-reflective targets located between consecutive scan positions. Coarse registration was then fine-tuned using Multi Station Adjustment 2 (MSA2). Data for each of the three FBRMS plots is found within plot directories: SEP-11, SEP-12 and SEP-30. Plot directories contain a main project directory (named using the starting date of data collection, e.g. 2017-03-14.001.riproject) with nine data subdirectories and a tile_index.dat file as shown in the archived document /neodc/forestscan/data/malaysia/SEP-11/ForestScan_example_data_directory_structure.pdf which details the data structure shared by all FBRSM plot TLS datasets.

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was conducted at three ForestScan 1ha (100m x 100m) Forest Biomass Reference Measurement Site (FBRMS) plots in Gabon from June to July 2022 by Cecilia Chavana-Bryant using a Riegl VZ-400i scanner. Data collection assistance was provided by Heddy O. Milamizokou Napo, Luna Soenens and Virginie Daelemans, data processing assistance was provided by Mr Peter Vines. This data collection was part of the European Space Agency (ESA) funded ForestScan project designed to improve the use of new Earth Observation (EO) estimates of above ground biomass (AGB) by providing TLS-, unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV-LS)- and airborne (ALS) LiDAR scanning-derived AGB and tree census data to compare to allometric and EO-derived estimates. Scans were acquired using chain sampling at 121 locations along a 10m Cartesian grid to ensure sufficient data overlap to produce high-quality point clouds for all ForestScan 1ha FBRMS plots. Due to the scanner's 100° field of view, capturing a complete sample of the scene at each scan location required two scans -an upright scan and a tilt scan. Upright scans are odd-numbered while tilt scans are even-numbered. The first scan at each plot is collected at the southwest corner, i.e. scan position 0,0 (unless something impedes it, e.g. stream, large tree fall, etc. or if the plot is oriented differently). To facilitate scan registration, five retro-reflective targets were located between scan positions with all tilt scans along the first sampling line were oriented towards the same sampling position along the next sampling line and tilt scans at the ends of sampling lines (i.e. tilt scans along plot edges) were oriented towards the inside of the plot. This aids scan registration as it allows tilt scans to capture the previous scan location within its field of view. A total of 242 scans were collected at each plot. The Riegl operating and processing software RiSCAN PRO version 2.14.1 was used to generate a plot-level point cloud, scans were coarse registered using the shared retro-reflective targets located between consecutive scan positions. Coarse registration was then fine-tuned using Multi Station Adjustment 2 (MSA2). Data for each of the four FBRMS plots is found within plot directories: LPG-01, OKO-01, OKO-02 and OKO-03. Plot directories contain a main project directory (named using the starting date of data collection, e.g. 2022-06-10_OKO-02.PROJ) with nine data subdirectories and a tile_index.dat file as shown in the archived document /neodc/forestscan/data/gabon/lope/TLS_lope_2022/OKO-02/ForestScan_example_data_directory_structure.pdf which details the data structure shared by all FBRSM plot TLS datasets