Enhancing Forest Canopy Height Mapping in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, by Integrating LISS IV and SAR data with GEDI LiDAR data Using Machine Learning

Abstract. This study investigates the integration of spaceborne Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) LiDAR data with optical imagery from Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensor (LISS IV), Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and PALSAR data for continuous forest canopy height mapping in Kaziranga National Park (KNP), Assam for the years 2018 and 2022. Four machine learning models were trained and evaluated to assess the predictive ability of LISS IV data in conjunction with SAR variables. The mean canopy height was measured at approximately 8.58 m in 2018, which increased to about 9.07m in 2022. Results reveal Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) as the top-performing model, achieving an RMSE of 5.47m and an R² of 0.55. In comparison, Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN) achieved RMSE values of 5.49, 5.51, and 5.73, respectively. Analysis shows a prevalent occurrence of canopy heights below 5 meters in KNP (more than 35% of the area), while taller canopies beyond 20m can be found in less than 5% of the area. This finding underscores the importance of integrating satellite data and machine learning and highlights the novel application of LISS IV data in enhancing canopy height mapping. Furthermore, it represents the first comprehensive attempt to map canopy height in KNP, laying the groundwork for further research on biomass assessment and carbon sequestration in this vital biodiversity hotspot. Overall, the study highlights the potential of leveraging advanced remote sensing technologies and machine learning approaches for improved understanding and management of forest ecosystems.