Retrieving Leaf Area Index from Remotely Sensed Data Using Advanced Statistical Approaches

Mapping and monitoring leaf area index (LAI) is critical to model surface energy balance, evapotranspiration, and vegetation productivity. Remote sensing helps in rapid collection of LAI on individual fields over large areas, in a time and cost-effective manner using empirical regression between LAI and spectral vegetation indices (SVI). However, these relationships may be ineffective when sun-surface sensor geometry, background reflectance and...