Patent ID: 8300896

Claim:
A computer-implemented forest inventory method comprising: a. processing imagery data using a computer system, said imagery data indicative of tree attribute information for said forest; b. using said computer system, classifying tree polygons within said imagery data to derive said tree attribute information; c. correlating field data using said computer system, said field data comprising at least one of actual tree attribute information and plot center location; d. using said computer system, generating a correlated model utilizing said tree attribute information derived from said imagery data and said actual tree attribute information; and e. generating a probabilistic forest inventory by applying said correlated model to all said imagery data using said computer system; f. wherein said classifying tree polygons comprises: i. superimposing at least one of CIR photography, stand shapes, tree crown polygon shapes and LiDAR data; ii. creating a classifier formula using discriminant analysis; iii. classifying polygons for all stands and strata; iv. manually reviewing species strata; v. calculating an average CIR band for individual tree crowns; vi. calculating a second order gray level texture feature; vii. selecting a subset of stands for classification; and viii. creating a training set for species at strata level.