Initial Tests for the Generation of a Spanish National Map of Forest Height from Tandem-X Data

Abstract

The first results of a project aimed at estimating forest height over the entire Spain by means of TanDEM-X data are shown and discussed in this work. Four test sites representative of the Spanish forests are introduced, as well as the data used for validation of results. Results obtained over one of the test sites (in Teruel province) are presented here. Among the challenges found in the project, the influence of slope in mountain areas and the relatively short height of the forest canopy make this work distinctive to previous projects employing TanDEM-X data for estimation of heights in tropical, boreal and temperate regions.