West Europe from space stock photo

Our People

Professor Mathias (Mat) Disney

Divisional Director Carbon Cycle
Carbon cycle: land, atmosphere and oceans

Research interests

I am interested in vegetation – particularly trees, forests and the carbon cycle. I use EO data such as ground-based and other lidar, to make measurements of forests and carbon as well as to understand radiative transfer in these systems.

Recent publications

Tracking Aboveground Biomass Dynamics in Africa: Evidence for a Changing Role in Carbon Cycling. 2026-03-14

Quantifying forest structural attributes and aboveground carbon dynamics with terrestrial laser scanning in a temperate deciduous forest. 2026-03-01

Tree diversity is changing across tropical Andean and Amazonian forests in response to global change (vol 10, pg 267, 2026). 2026-03

Family imprint reveals basin-wide patterns of Amazon forest embolism resistance. 2026-02-26

ForestScan: a unique multiscale dataset of tropical forest structure across 3 continents including terrestrial, UAV and airborne LiDAR and in-situ forest census data. 2026-02-16

Tree diversity is changing across tropical Andean and Amazonian forests in response to global change. 2026-02

Benchmarking tree instance segmentation of terrestrial laser scanning point clouds. 2026-01

Street Tree Characteristics from Street View Imagery: A London Case Study for Urban Heat Island Analysis. 2026

Species functional traits affect regional and local dominance across western Amazonian forests. 2025-12-29

Consistent and scalable monitoring of birds and habitats along a coffee production intensity gradient. 2025-12

Expanding forest research with terrestrial LiDAR technology. 2025-10-06

Realistic virtual forests for understanding forest disturbances and recovery from space. 2025-09

The Fifth Phase of the Radiation Transfer Model Intercomparison Exercise (RAMI-V): Experiment Description and Results on Actual Canopy Scenarios. 2025-07-29

Investigating the accuracy of tropical woody stem CO<sub>2</sub> efflux estimates: scaling methods, and vertical and diel variation. 2025-06

Use and misuse of trait imputation in ecology: the problem of using out-of-context imputed values. 2025-06

The influence of 3D canopy structure on modelled photosynthesis. 2025-05

Variation in wood density across South American tropical forests. 2025-03-10

Tropical forests in the Americas are changing too slowly to track climate change. 2025-03-07

The impact of leaf-wood separation algorithms on aboveground biomass estimation from terrestrial laser scanning. 2025-03-01

Using handheld mobile laser scanning to quantify fine-scale surface fuels and detect changes post-disturbance in northern California forests. 2025-03

Detecting selective logging in tropical forests with optical satellite data: an experiment in Peru shows texture at 3 m gives the best results. 2025-02

The impact of forest canopy structure on modelled photosynthesis. 2025-01-20

Assessing Sampling Design and Voxel Size in Estimating Wheat Green Area Index With Measured and Simulated TLS Data. 2025

New Tree Height Allometries Derived From Terrestrial Laser Scanning Reveal Substantial Discrepancies With Forest Inventory Methods in Tropical Rainforests (vol 30, e17473, 2024). 2024-12

Treegraph: tree architecture from terrestrial laser scanning point clouds. 2024-12

Bitemporal Radiative Transfer Modeling Using Bitemporal 3D-Explicit Forest Reconstruction from Terrestrial Laser Scanning. 2024-09-29

Benchmarking Instance Segmentation in Terrestrial Laser Scanning Forest Point Clouds. 2024-09-05

Quantifying Forest Dynamics with Terrestrial Laser Scanning Data. 2024-09-05

New tree height allometries derived from terrestrial laser scanning reveal substantial discrepancies with forest inventory methods in tropical rainforests. 2024-08-19

Multi-scale lidar measurements suggest miombo woodlands contain substantially more carbon than thought. 2024-07-10

Tree Surface Area Allometry. 2024-04-28

Limitations of estimating branch volume from terrestrial laser scanning. 2024-04

Giant sequoia ( Sequoiadendron giganteum ) in the UK: carbon storage potential and growth rates. 2024-03

Consistent patterns of common species across tropical tree communities. 2024-01-10

Consistent and scalable monitoring of birds and habitats along a coffee production intensity gradient. 2024

Understanding different dominance patterns in western Amazonian forests. 2023-12-18

Reconstructing the digital twin of forests from a 3D library: Quantifying trade-offs for radiative transfer modeling. 2023-12-01

TLS2trees: A scalable tree segmentation pipeline for TLS data. 2023-12

Monitoring canopy quality and improving equitable outcomes of urban tree planting using LiDAR and machine learning. 2023-11

Sensitivity of South American tropical forests to an extreme climate anomaly. 2023-09-04

Benchmarking airborne laser scanning tree segmentation algorithms in broadleaf forests shows high accuracy only for canopy trees. 2023-09

TomoSense: A unique 3D dataset over temperate forest combining multi-frequency mono- and bi-static tomographic SAR with terrestrial, UAV and airborne lidar, and in-situ forest census. 2023-05-15

Toward a forest biomass reference measurement system for remote sensing applications. 2023-02

Basin-wide variation in tree hydraulic safety margins predicts the carbon balance of Amazon forests. 2023-01-01

Analysing individual 3D tree structure using the R package ITSMe. 2023-01

Using terrestrial laser scanning to evaluate non-destructive aboveground biomass allometries in diverse Northern California forests. 2023

TLS2trees: a scalable tree segmentation pipeline for TLS data. 2022-12-11

Laser scanning reveals potential underestimation of biomass carbon in temperate forest. 2022-10

Reliably mapping low-intensity forest disturbance using satellite radar data. 2022-09-26

Sentinel-1 Shadows Used to Quantify Canopy Loss from Selective Logging in Gabon. 2022-08-27

Water table depth modulates productivity and biomass across Amazonian forests. 2022-08-01

Estimating forest above‐ground biomass with terrestrial laser scanning: Current status and future directions. 2022-08

Implications of 3D Forest Stand Reconstruction Methods for Radiative Transfer Modeling: A Case Study in the Temperate Deciduous Forest. 2022-07-27

Gaining insight into the allometric scaling of trees by utilizing 3d reconstructed tree models – a SimpleForest study. 2022-05-05

Comparing Remote Sensing and Field-Based Approaches to Estimate Ladder Fuels and Predict Wildfire Burn Severity. 2022-04-06

Quantifying tropical forest structure through terrestrial and UAV laser scanning fusion in Australian rainforests. 2022-03-15

Detecting Tropical Forest Degradation Using Optical Satellite Data: An Experiment in Peru Show Texture at 3 M Gives Best Results. 2022-02-09

An Effective Method for InSAR Mapping of Tropical Forest Degradation in Hilly Areas. 2022-01-18

Tree segmentation in airborne laser scanning data is only accurate for canopy trees. 2022

Using terrestrial laser scanning to constrain forest ecosystem structure and functions in the Ecosystem Demography model (ED2.2). 2022

Terrestrial laser scanning to reconstruct branch architecture from harvested branches. 2021-12

To What Extent Can UAV Photogrammetry Replicate UAV LiDAR to Determine Forest Structure? A Test in Two Contrasting Tropical Forests. 2021-12

Remote sensing and the UN Ocean Decade: high expectations, big opportunities. 2021-11-26

An Effective Method for InSAR Mapping of Tropical Forest Degradation in Hilly Areas. 2021-11-09

How can we know what we don't know? A Commentary on: Sampling forests with terrestrial laser scanning. 2021-11-02

Taking the pulse of Earth's tropical forests using networks of highly distributed plots. 2021-08-01

SimpleForest – a comprehensive tool for 3d reconstruction of trees from forest plot point clouds. 2021-07-30

Amazon tree dominance across forest strata. 2021-06-01

Using terrestrial laser scanning to constrain forest ecosystem structure and functions in the Ecosystem Demography model (ED2.2). 2021-04-12

New insights into large tropical tree mass and structure from direct harvest and terrestrial lidar. 2021-02

Terrestrial laser scanning in forest ecology: Expanding the horizon. 2020-12-15

Canopy wetness in the Eastern Amazon. 2020-11-24

New 3D measurements of large redwood trees for biomass and structure. 2020-10-15

The mechanical stability of the world’s tallest broadleaf trees. 2020-10-05

Old growth Afrotropical forests critical for maintaining forest carbon. 2020-10-01

Tree Species Classification Using Structural Features Derived From Terrestrial Laser Scanning. 2020-10

Quantifying urban forest structure with open-access remote sensing data sets. 2020-04

Transpiration from subarctic deciduous woodlands: Environmental controls and contribution to ecosystem evapotranspiration. 2020-04

3D forest model-assisted validation of the Sentinel-2 SNAP fAPAR product. 2020-03-23

Time for a Plant Structural Economics Spectrum. 2020-03-23

Assessment of bias in pan-tropical biomass predictions. 2020-02-20

3D Imaging Insights into Forests and Coral Reefs. 2020-01-01

New insights into large tropical tree mass and structure from direct harvest and terrestrial lidar. 2020

Tree height in tropical forest as measured by different ground, proximal, and remote sensing instruments, and impacts on above ground biomass estimates. 2019-10-01

Theoretical uncertainties for global satellite-derived burned area estimates. 2019-08-23

Time for a Plant Structural Economics Spectrum. 2019-08-06

Innovations in Ground and Airborne Technologies as Reference and for Training and Validation: Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS). 2019-07-29

Ground Data are Essential for Biomass Remote Sensing Missions. 2019-07

The Importance of Consistent Global Forest Aboveground Biomass Product Validation. 2019-07

The World's Tallest Tropical Tree in Three Dimensions. 2019-06-18

An architectural understanding of natural sway frequencies in trees. 2019-06

Terrestrial LiDAR: a three‐dimensional revolution in how we look at trees. 2019-06

Leaf and wood classification framework for terrestrial LiDAR point clouds. 2019-05

Theoretical uncertainties for global satellite-derived burned area estimates. 2019-04-03

Extracting individual trees from lidar point clouds using treeseg. 2019-03

Performance of Laser-Based Electronic Devices for Structural Analysis of Amazonian Terra-Firme Forests. 2019-03

Finite element analysis of trees in the wind based on terrestrial laser scanning data. 2019-02

A New Architectural Perspective on Wind Damage in a Natural Forest. 2019-01-07

New estimates of leaf angle distribution from terrestrial LiDAR: Comparison with measured and modelled estimates from nine broadleaf tree species. 2019-01

The mechanical stability of the world’s tallest broadleaf trees. 2019

Decoupling Canopy Structure and Leaf Biochemistry: Testing the Utility of Directional Area Scattering Factor (DASF). 2018-11-29

Detecting Human Presence and Influence on Neotropical Forests with Remote Sensing. 2018-10-05

Simulating arbitrary hyperspectral bandsets from multispectral observations via a generic Earth Observation-Land Data Assimilation System (EO-LDAS). 2018-10-01

Author Correction: Strong constraint on modelled global carbon uptake using solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence data. 2018-07-05

Estimating urban above ground biomass with multi-scale LiDAR. 2018-06-26

Realistic Forest Stand Reconstruction from Terrestrial LiDAR for Radiative Transfer Modelling. 2018-06

Variability and bias in active and passive ground-based measurements of effective plant, wood and leaf area index. 2018-04-15

New perspectives on the ecology of tree structure and tree communities through terrestrial laser scanning. 2018-04-06

Non-intersecting leaf insertion algorithm for tree structure models. 2018-04-06

The terrestrial laser scanning revolution in forest ecology. 2018-04-06

Weighing trees with lasers: advances, challenges and opportunities. 2018-04-06

Plant Structure-Function Relationships and Woody Tissue Respiration: Upscaling to Forests from Laser-Derived Measurements.. 2018-03-05

Estimation of above‐ground biomass of large tropical trees with terrestrial LiDAR. 2018-02

Strong constraint on modelled global carbon uptake using solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence data. 2018-01-31

Validating canopy clumping retrieval methods using hemispherical photography in a simulated Eucalypt forest. 2017-12-15

Data acquisition considerations for Terrestrial Laser Scanning of forest plots. 2017-07

Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation: three years on. 2017-06

Influence of levelling technique on the retrieval of canopy structural parameters from digital hemispherical photography. 2017-05-01

Evaluation of the Range Accuracy and the Radiometric Calibration of Multiple Terrestrial Laser Scanning Instruments for Data Interoperability. 2017-02-17

Vegetation structure (LiDAR). 2017-01-01

Measurement of fine-spatial-resolution 3D vegetation structure with airborne waveform lidar: Calibration and validation with voxelised terrestrial lidar. 2016-11-11

Large-area virtual forests from terrestrial laser scanning data. 2016-11-03

Terrestrial Laser Scanning for Plot-Scale Forest Measurement (vol 1, pg 239, 2015). 2016-09-01

African Savanna-Forest Boundary Dynamics: A 20-Year Study. 2016-06-23

Quantifying the impact of woody material on leaf area index estimation from hemispherical photography using 3D canopy simulations. 2016-05-25

A New Global fAPAR and LAI Dataset Derived from Optimal Albedo Estimates: Comparison with MODIS Products. 2016-03

Efficient Emulation of Radiative Transfer Codes Using Gaussian Processes and Application to Land Surface Parameter Inferences. 2016-02-01

Is waveform worth it? A comparison of LiDAR approaches for vegetation and landscape characterisation. 2016-02-01

An improved theoretical model of canopy gap probability for Leaf Area Index estimation in woody ecosystems. 2015-12-15

Terrestrial Laser Scanning for Plot-Scale Forest Measurement. 2015-12

SimpleTree-An Efficient Open Source Tool to Build Tree Models from TLS Clouds. 2015-11

The fourth phase of the radiative transfer model intercomparison (RAMI) exercise: Actual canopy scenarios and conformity testing. 2015-11

Waveform lidar over vegetation: An evaluation of inversion methods for estimating return energy. 2015-07

Nondestructive estimates of above-ground biomass using terrestrial laser scanning. 2015-02

Sensitivity of direct canopy gap fraction retrieval from airborne waveform lidar to topography and survey characteristics. 2014-03-05

Developing a dual-wavelength full-waveform terrestrial laser scanner to characterize forest canopy structure. 2014-01-01

Highly accurate tree models derived from terrestrial laser scan data: A method description. 2014-01-01

Rapid characterisation of forest structure from TLS and 3D modelling. 2013-12-01

The impact of sensor characteristics for obtaining accurate ground-based measurements of LAI. 2013-12-01

The fourth radiation transfer model intercomparison (RAMI‐IV): Proficiency testing of canopy reflectance models with ISO‐13528. 2013-07-16

Reply to Ollinger et al.: Remote sensing of leaf nitrogen and emergent ecosystem properties. 2013-07-02

Direct retrieval of canopy gap probability using airborne waveform lidar. 2013-07-01

Investigating assumptions of crown archetypes for modelling LiDAR returns. 2013-07

Reply to Townsend et al.: Decoupling contributions from canopy structure and leaf optics is critical for remote sensing leaf biochemistry. 2013-03-19

Fast Automatic Precision Tree Models from Terrestrial Laser Scanner Data. 2013-02

Measuring forests with dual wavelength lidar: A simulation study over topography. 2012-08-15

Terrestrial ecosystems from space: A review of earth observation products for macroecology applications. 2012-06-01

<b>SAGE Handbook of Remote Sensing</b>, 1st edn, edited by G. Foody, T. Warner and D. Nellis. 2012-01-10

Effects of clumping on modelling LiDAR waveforms in forest canopies.. 2012

A threshold insensitive method for locating the forest canopy top with waveform lidar. 2011-12-15

3D radiative transfer modelling of fire impacts on a two-layer savanna system. 2011-08-15

An assessment of the MODIS collection 5 leaf area index product for a region of mixed coniferous forest. 2011-02-15

On canopy spectral invariants and hyperspectral ray tracing. 2010-11-29

Simulating the impact of discrete-return lidar system and survey characteristics over young conifer and broadleaf forests. 2010-03-16

Modelling the impact of wildfire on spectral reflectance. 2009-12-01

Satellite monitoring of disturbances in Arctic ecosystems. 2009-12-01

Quantifying Surface Reflectivity for Spaceborne Lidar via Two Independent Methods. 2009-09

Upscaling as ecological information transfer: a simple framework with application to Arctic ecosystem carbon exchange. 2009-08

Impact of land cover uncertainties on estimates of biospheric carbon fluxes. 2008-12-04

Estimating the spatial exchange of carbon through the assimilation of earth observation derived products using an ensemble kalman filter. 2008-12-01

Extracting tree heights over topography with multi-spectral spaceborne waveform lidar. 2008-12-01

Quantifying surface reflectivity for spaceborne lidar missions. 2008-12-01

Using remote sensing data to quantify changes in vegetation over peatland areas. 2008-12-01

Assimilating canopy reflectance data into an Ecosystem Model with an Ensemble Kalman Filter. 2008-09-10

The RAMI On-line model checker (ROMC): A web-based benchmarking facility for canopy reflectance models. 2008

Using Satellite Observations in Regional Scale Calculations of Carbon Exchange.. 2008

Spectral invariants and scattering across multiple scales from within-leaf to canopy. 2007-07-30

Third Radiation transfer Model Intercomparison (RAMI) exercise: Documenting progress in canopy reflectance models. 2007-05-08

Assimilating reflectance data into an ecosystem model to improve estimates of terrestrial carbon fluxes.. 2007

Canopy spectral invariants for remote sensing and model applications. 2007

3D modelling of forest canopy structure for remote sensing simulations in the optical and microwave domains. 2006-01-15

Fluorescence explorer (FLEX): An optimised payload to map vegetation photosynthesis from space. 2006-01-01

Comparison of MODIS broadband albedo over an agricultural site with ground measurements and values derived from Earth observation data at a range of spatial scales.. 2004-12-01

Coupling a canopy reflectance model with a global vegetation model. 2004-12-01

Radiation Transfer Model Intercomparison (RAMI) exercise: Results from the second phase – art. no. D06210. 2004-03-25

Inter-comparison of phenological measures derived from coarse resolution earth observation and implications for assimilation into dynamic vegetation models. 2003-11-24

Modelling the radiometric response of a dynamic, 3D structural model of wheat in the optical and microwave domains. 2003-11-24

Biophysical parameter retrieval from forest and crop canopies in the optical and microwave domains using 3D models of canopy structure. 2003

First operational BRDF, albedo nadir reflectance products from MODIS. 2002-11-01

On the potential of CHRIS/PROBA for estimating vegetation canopy properties from space. 2000-01-01

Monte Carlo ray tracing in optical canopy reflectance modelling. 2000

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) BRDF and albedo product: preliminary results. 2000

Validation of a manual measurement method for deriving 3D canopy structure using the BPMS. 1998-01-01

An investigation of how linear BRDF models deal with the complex scattering processes encountered in a real canopy. 1998

The Botanical Plant Modelling System (BPMS): a case study of multiple scattering in a barley canopy. 1998

A radar backscatter simulation of a forest canopy using 3D physical structures derived from LiDAR scanning.

Carbon storage in peatlands: A case study on the Isle of Man.

Upscaling tundra CO2 exchange from chamber to eddy covariance tower.