Next Article in Journal
3DV-Unet: Eddy-Resolving Reconstruction of Three-Dimensional Upper-Ocean Physical Fields from Satellite Observations
Previous Article in Journal
Local Surface Environmental Changes in a Basin in the Permafrost Region of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Affected by Lake Outburst Event
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Remote Sensing
Volume 17
Issue 19
10.3390/rs17193393
remotesensing-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Validation of Multi-Scale LAI Products in Heterogeneous Terrain-Based UAV Images

by
Meng Liu
1,2,
Wenping Yu
1,2,
Dandan Li
1,
Fangfang Shang
1,2,
Longlong Zhang
1,2,
Shuangjie Wang
1,2,
Wen Yang
1,2,
Ruoyi Zhao
1,2 and
Xuemei Wang
1,3,*
1
Chongqing Jinfo Mountain Karst Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Remote Sensing Big Data Application, School of Geographical Science, Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road Beibei District, Chongqing 400715, China
2
Yibin Academy of Southwest University, Yibin 644000, China
3
Southwest University Library, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(19), 3393; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17193393
Submission received: 8 July 2025 / Revised: 7 September 2025 / Accepted: 9 September 2025 / Published: 9 October 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Significant uncertainties persist across different Leaf Area Index (LAI) products due to multiple factors; therefore, the accuracy assessment of the global LAI products is an indispensable step before their application. In this study, comprehensive validation of multi-scale LAI products including Sentinel-2, Landsat-8/9, and MCD15A3H was implemented utilizing fine-resolution LAI maps which were based on UAV images and field-measured LAI data. The validation results demonstrated a consistent, systematic underestimation across all the LAI products within the study area, the RMSE of these products ranged from 0.56 to 1.63, and the coarse-resolution MCD15A3H LAI product demonstrated highest accuracy (RMSE = 0.56, R2 = 0.69). The Sentinel-2 products exhibited intermediate accuracy among all those products (RMSE: 1.16–1.36). The Landsat-8/9 LAI product showed markedly lower accuracy relative to Sentinel-2; its RMSE (1.63) exceeded that of Sentinel-2 10 m LAI and 20 m LAI by 40.52% and 21.64%, respectively. In addition, all these LAI products showed consistent seasonal variation patterns with the reference LAI maps. Moreover, Sentinel-2 10 m LAI products showed serious underestimation for all vegetation types, with forests providing the highest RMSE = 0.89. This study serves as a valuable reference for the application of multi-scale LAI products in heterogeneous terrain and provides directions for the improvement of fine-resolution LAI retrieval algorithms.
Keywords: leaf area index; validation; multi-scale; UAV images leaf area index; validation; multi-scale; UAV images

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, M.; Yu, W.; Li, D.; Shang, F.; Zhang, L.; Wang, S.; Yang, W.; Zhao, R.; Wang, X. Validation of Multi-Scale LAI Products in Heterogeneous Terrain-Based UAV Images. Remote Sens. 2025, 17, 3393. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17193393

AMA Style

Liu M, Yu W, Li D, Shang F, Zhang L, Wang S, Yang W, Zhao R, Wang X. Validation of Multi-Scale LAI Products in Heterogeneous Terrain-Based UAV Images. Remote Sensing. 2025; 17(19):3393. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17193393

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, Meng, Wenping Yu, Dandan Li, Fangfang Shang, Longlong Zhang, Shuangjie Wang, Wen Yang, Ruoyi Zhao, and Xuemei Wang. 2025. "Validation of Multi-Scale LAI Products in Heterogeneous Terrain-Based UAV Images" Remote Sensing 17, no. 19: 3393. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17193393

APA Style

Liu, M., Yu, W., Li, D., Shang, F., Zhang, L., Wang, S., Yang, W., Zhao, R., & Wang, X. (2025). Validation of Multi-Scale LAI Products in Heterogeneous Terrain-Based UAV Images. Remote Sensing, 17(19), 3393. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17193393

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop