Vegetation Biomass Estimation Using 3D Ground-Based Point Clouds: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Purpose of Review Ground-based 3D point cloud technologies, including static terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), mobile laser scanning (MLS), and close-range photogrammetry, are increasingly used for estimation of aboveground vegetation biomass as they provide detailed structural representations across vegetation types; however, a comprehensive synthesis of how point-cloud data are translated into biomass estimates remains lacking. This review evaluates current approaches, performance patterns, and methodological gaps in biomass estimation using 3D ground-based point clouds. Recent Findings We systematically reviewed and analyzed 160 research articles (comprising 171 device-specific studies) published until the end of 2025 (first appearing in 2010). Research was dominated by tree-based applications (74%), with limited attention to shrubs, grasslands or crops. TLS was the prevailing acquisition technology (78%), although MLS adoption is growing. Biomass estimation primarily relied on allometric equations, volume-based reconstructions (e.g., quantitative structure models, voxelizations, convex hull), and parametric regression models. Reported model performance was generally high in tree- and shrub-based studies (median R 2 > 0.8), but more variable in non-woody vegetation types. Despite rapid advances in 3D sensing, point-cloud-native deep-learning approaches remain rarely implemented in biomass estimation workflows. Summary Ground-based 3D sensing is maturing technically, yet methodological heterogeneity persists. Many workflows still depend on destructive calibration data, semi-manual preprocessing, and non-standardized modelling strategies, limiting reproducibility and cross-study comparability. Multi-sensor integration is emerging but lacks consistent upscaling frameworks. Future research should expand coverage of underrepresented vegetation types, promote standardized and automated processing pipelines, and systematically evaluate point-cloud-native deep learning architectures, both for extracting structural proxies and for assessing their capacity to estimate biomass directly.

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