Using Lidar Data to Analyse Sinkhole Characteristics Relevant for Understory Vegetation under Forest Cover\u2014Case Study of a High Karst Area in the Dinaric Mountains
In this article, we investigate the potential for detection and characterization of sinkholes
under dense forest cover by using airborne laser scanning data. Laser pulse returns from
the ground provide important data for the estimation of digital elevation model (DEM), which
can be used for further processing. The main objectives of this study were to map and determine
the geomorphometric characteristics of a large number of sinkholes and to investigate
the correlations between geomorphology and vegetation in areas with such characteristics.
The selected study area has very low anthropogenic influences and is particularly suitable
for studying undisturbed karst sinkholes. The information extracted from this study regarding
the shapes and depths of sinkholes show significant directionality for both orientation of
sinkholes and their distribution over the area. Furthermore, significant differences in vegetation
diversity and composition occur inside and outside the sinkholes, which indicates their
presence has important ecological impacts