The article describes features of the use of airborne laser scanning data for forest mapping (forest canopy height) with GIS techniques. Mapping technique for forest canopy height mapping was developed. This technique has been evaluated on the test site (National Forest of Mark Twain, Missouri, USA). Forest canopy height map can be used for identifying consistent patterns of spatial distribution of the forest canopy height. Also it allows determining the height of the trees. The maps created with the technique proposed can be applied in forestry, topographic mapping, and geographical studies.

Novakovsky Boguslav A., Doctor of Geographical Sciences. Professor of the Lomonosov Moscow State University Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics Faculty of Geography.
Lomonosov Moscow State University, GSP-1, Leninskiye gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia. E-mail: dcaph@mail.ru

Kovach Natalya S., LLC «Geoproektizyskaniya». Deputy General Director for Development and Work with Branches.
26 building 17, Andronovskoye shosse., Moscow, 111024, Russia. E-mail: kovach@geops.ru

Entin Andrei L., graduate student of the Lomonosov Moscow State University Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics Faculty of Geography. Lomonosov Moscow State University, GSP-1, Leninskiye gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia. Email: andrei.entin.worknstudy@gmail.com

Kalinovsky Leonid V., undergraduate of the Lomonosov Moscow State University of the Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics, Geography Department,. Lomonosov Moscow State University, GSP-1, Leninskiye gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia. E-mail: leokv@bk.ru