This module is connected to SamsaraLight library. It loads detailed inventory files, computes the light intercepted by trees and the light transmitted to ground cells or virtual sensors. This model is particularly useful to perform sensitivity analysis of SamsaraLight model and to analyze the effect of partial harvest on the distribution of light among the trees and regeneration. Functions are also available to compare light prediction versus light measures.
If your plot was mapped with a different coordinate system, then you must transform yourself the coordinates of trees and plot extents. In this latter case, I recommend to set samsaraLightLoader to use a north-to-X-angle of 90°, i.e. Y axis corresponds to North direction. Additionally, I recommend adding a virtual buffer stand (with random virtual trees) in the corner of the rectangular Capsis plot where you do not have any information.
Normally, an up-to-date example of inventory file is available in the capsis/data/samsaralightloader directory. the good spelling of keywords is very important and case sensitive. The order of the information included in this file is equally very important and must be as described below.
A table with 3 columns:
A table with two columns: x and y values of the vertex of the inventory zone. All vertex must be given in a clockwise order.
A table with 7 columns:
To be completed…
A table with 14 columns:
TO DO
Ligot, G., Balandier, P., Courbaud, B., Claessens, H., 2014. Forest radiative transfer models: which approach for which application? Can. J. For. Res. 44:385-397. link
Ligot, G., Balandier, P., Courbaud, B., Jonard, M., Kneeshaw, D., Claessens, H, 2014. Managing understory light to maintain a mixture of species with different shade tolerance. For. Ecol. Manage. 327:189-200.
Gauthier Ligot
Université de Liège Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Gembloux, Belgium