Effects of Plot Size on Airborne LiDAR-Derived Metrics and Predicted Model Performances of Subtropical Planted Forest Attributes
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The manuscript highlights the problems of accuracy in determining lidar monitoring indicators in forest stands of various types, if rectangular control plots are increased from 100 m2 to 900 m2.
1. The relevance of the manuscript is quite high, the title and objectives of the manuscript correspond to the conclusions and topics of the journal. Nevertheless, please add in the tasks and clarify in the conclusions to increase the reader's interest how the standard deviation of point clouds changes (and does it change at all) in comparison between different types of forest (for example, for 100 and 900 m2). Especially interesting is the presence (or absence) statistical differences between coniferous and deciduous species.
2. The text is presented clearly and logically. The level of presentation of the manuscript provides a complete understanding of the problem of forest inventory in the People's Republic of China, based on the balance of choice between round and rectangular plots. However, please clarify why Figure 1 does not show combinations of 500, 700 and 800 m2 squares? For example, 500 m2 of a cross-shaped of plot.
3. Some disadvantage of the method of forest inventory described in the manuscript is its complexity and high cost, but the possibility of practical implementation using existing technologies eliminates this disadvantage. Please clarify in the MM section whether there is a fundamental difference between scaling point clouds for coniferous and deciduous trees. Does the wind influence (and, as a consequence, the change in the position of leaves and needles in trees) on the accuracy of probing? Please indicate which specific tree species were considered in the deciduous type of forest? Does the area and shape of a single sheet (for example, maple and beech) affect the characteristics of the point cloud?
4. To more fully demonstrate all the advantages and increase the level of reader interest in the manuscript and the scientific problem, the Introduction section can be supplemented with information on the practical application of this knowledge and research results, for example, to automate data collection, their convolution network processing and accurate forecasting VOL. It is also useful to add a paragraph before the conclusions with an answer to the question: what remains unresolved and what studies are planned in the future?
Author Response
Dear Reviewers,
We sincerely thank you for your constructive comments on our manuscript entitled “Impact of plot size on airborne LiDAR-derived metrics and predicted model performances of subtropical planted forest attributes” (ID: forests-2028101).
We have adopted all your suggestions and have revised the manuscript thoroughly to the best of our ability.
Best regards,
Chungan Li
Forest College, Guangxi University, 100 East Daxue Rd., Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China.
E-mail: [email protected]
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The paper entitled “Impact of plot size on airborne LiDAR-derived metrics and predicted model performances of subtropical planted forest attributes” investigated the influence of plot size on the performance of estimation models of forest inventory attributes to optimize the technical scheme of operational airborne LiDAR-assisted forest resource inventories. The paper provided in a good shape but must be improved. It needs major revision and require moderate English changes.
1. Line 44: following papers provide valuable information that can be useful in this paper:
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13071336
https://doi.org/10.3390/f13111905
2. I suggest that calculate MAE as well as rRMSE. R2 is not a good to decide which model is better.
3. Fig 5: what are the equations for each model?
4. What are the research limitations in your study? Write about it in discussion.
5. It is better to have implications in conclusion or as a separate section to understand better about how this study can help researchers.
Author Response
Dear Reviewers,
We sincerely thank you for your constructive comments on our manuscript entitled “Impact of plot size on airborne LiDAR-derived metrics and predicted model performances of subtropical planted forest attributes” (ID: forests-2028101).
We have adopted all your suggestions and have revised the manuscript thoroughly to the best of our ability.
Best regards,
Chungan Li
Forest College, Guangxi University, 100 East Daxue Rd., Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China.
E-mail: [email protected]
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Good job!
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
We have revised the manuscript completely (including references), and a native English speaking colleague helped us with further revisions of the manuscript.
Best regards,
Chungan Li,
Forestry College, Guangxi University
Email: [email protected]
