Canopy Analyze Tool

Overview

The Canopy Analyze Tool enables you to perform detailed statistical analysis of forest canopy heights within custom-defined areas. This tool provides precise height statistics including maximum, minimum, average, and standard deviation values.

Key Features

• Flexible Area Definition: Draw custom polygons or use preset shapes (boxes and circles)
• Preset Shape Tools: Quick-create standard boxes and circles centered on your map view
• Interactive Shape Editing: Resize, rotate, and reposition analysis areas with transform tools
• Real-Time Area Display: See the current area size while drawing and editing
• Comprehensive Statistics: Get detailed canopy height metrics for your analysis area
• Area Validation: Built-in limits ensure optimal analysis performance (maximum 10 hectares)
• Precision Results: Statistics include max, min, average, standard deviation, pixel count, and area

How to Use the Canopy Analyze Tool

Accessing the Tool

1. Navigate to the right panel in Horizon
2. Locate and click the Canopy Analyze tool icon
3. The tool panel will open showing drawing and analysis options

Defining Your Analysis Area

You have three ways to create an analysis area:

Option 1: Draw a Custom Polygon

1. Click the Draw Polygon button (polygon icon)
2. Click points on the map to define your boundary
3. Continue clicking to add vertices as needed
4. The polygon will complete automatically when finished
5. The tool exits drawing mode after completion

Best for: Irregular areas, custom boundaries, specific plot shapes

Option 2: Create a Preset Box

1. Click the Rectangle button to create a preset box
2. The box appears centered on your current map view
3. The shape automatically enters edit mode for immediate adjustment
4. Resize using corner handles while maintaining aspect ratio
5. Reposition by dragging the entire shape

Best for: Square sample plots, standard harvest units, regular grid analysis

Option 3: Create a Preset Circle

1. Click the Circle button to create a preset circle
2. The circle appears centered on your current map view
3. The shape automatically enters edit mode for immediate adjustment
4. Resize using edge handles while maintaining circular shape
5. Reposition by dragging the entire shape

Best for: Circular sample plots, point-centered analysis, radial studies

Editing Your Analysis Area

Activate Edit Mode

1. Click the Edit Geometry button (edit icon)
2. Your shape displays with editing handles
3. The button appearance changes to indicate active editing

Editing Tools

For Custom Polygons:

• Use reshape tools to adjust individual vertices
• Move vertices to refine your boundary
• The shape updates in real-time

**For Preset Shapes (Boxes and Circles): **

• Resize: Drag corner/edge handles to scale the shape
• Rotate: Use a rotation handle (boxes only)
• Move: Click and drag the shape to reposition
• Maintain Shape: Preset shapes preserve their form (boxes stay rectangular, circles stay round)
• Size Limits: Maximum dimension of 500 meters enforced automatically

Monitor Your Area Size

• Current Area Display shows live calculations while editing
• Area displayed in both hectares (ha) and square meters (m²)
• A warning appears if the area exceeds the 10-hectare maximum
• Area updates in real-time as you resize or reshape

Exit Edit Mode

1. Click the Edit Geometry button again to finish editing, OR
2. Click elsewhere on the map to exit edit mode

Running the Analysis

1. Ensure your analysis area is defined and sized appropriately
2. Check that the area is within the 10-hectare maximum limit
3. Click the Analyze Canopy button (raster analysis icon)
4. Wait while the analysis processes (loading indicator appears)
5. Results display automatically in the results card

Understanding Your Results

The result card displays comprehensive canopy height statistics:

Statistical Measures

• Max Canopy Height (m): The tallest canopy measurement within your area
• Min Canopy Height (m): The shortest canopy measurement within your area
• Avg Canopy Height (m): The mean canopy height across all pixels
• Std Dev (m): Standard deviation showing height variability
• Pixel Count: Number of data points analyzed
• Analysis Area (ha): Confirmed area size of your polygon

Resetting and Starting Over

Click the Reset button (reset icon) to:

• Clear your analysis area from the map
• Remove all result displays
• Return to a fresh state for new analysis
• Deactivate any active drawing or editing modes

Video Tutorials

Get area to Analyst

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Analysis button not responding	Verify area is drawn and within 10-hectare limit
"No geometry" error message	Draw or select an analysis area first
"Area too large" warning	Reduce analysis area size or divide into sections
Edit mode won't activate	Ensure an analysis area exists on the map
Preset shape doesn't appear	Check map is zoomed to appropriate scale
Can't resize preset shape	Verify edit mode is active (button highlighted)
Size limit exceeded warning	Reduce shape size to under 500m maximum dimension
No results displayed	Check Canopy Height Model layer is visible and loaded
Results seem incorrect	Verify analysis area is within data coverage zone
Shape disappears after editing	Click elsewhere on map or toggle edit button to complete
Analysis takes too long	Reduce area size; larger areas require more processing
Can't create new shape	Click Reset to clear existing analysis first

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How accurate are the canopy height measurements? A: The canopy height data comes from high-resolution LiDAR with 50cm × 50cm per pixel resolution, providing very precise measurements suitable for detailed forest analysis.

Q: Can I analyze multiple areas at once? A: No, analyze one area at a time. Use the Reset button between analyzes and document your results before moving to the next area.

Q: Why do preset shapes enter edit mode automatically? A: This allows you to immediately position and size the shape exactly where you need it, making the workflow faster and more efficient.

Q: What does "Pixel Count" mean in the results? A: Each pixel represents a 50cm × 50cm area on the ground. Pixel count shows how many data points were analyzed, indicating the detail level of your results.

Q: How should I interpret Standard Deviation? A: Standard deviation shows canopy height variability. Low values (0-5m) suggest uniform, even-aged forest. High values (10-20m) indicate mixed-age or structurally complex forest.

Q: Can I save my analysis results? A: Currently, results are displayed only during the session. Take screenshots or manually record statistics for documentation purposes.

Q: What happens if I click Analyze with area over 10 hectares? A: The system will prevent the analysis and display an error message showing your current area size and the maximum allowed limit.

Q: Why does the area display show different values while editing? A: The area calculation updates in real-time as you resize or reshape your analysis area, giving you immediate feedback on the size.