Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) provides a valuable tool for the retrieval of detailed individual-tree structural parameters. In March 2012, we scanned 438 young trees (under leaf-off condition) across 14 plots in Site A. The scans were performed with a FARO Laser Scanner Photon 120/20 (FARO Technologies, Inc., FLorida, USA). The co-registration of the point clouds from nine scans within each plot was carried out with FARO Scene (V.5.0.1) in order to yield a complete 3D representation for each plot. The Pointools Edit (V.1.5) was used to retrieve the total tree height, stem diameter at ground height, the length of the longest branch and the height of the longest branch.

The tree positions in the so called extended core area for each 1mu-plot were scanned. The extended core area is the central 6 * 6 tree positions in the monocultres and 2-species mixtures (36 tree positions per 1mu-plot) and the central 12 * 12 tree positions in the 4-, 8-, 16- or 24- species mixtures (144 tree positions per 1mu-plot).

This data was collected from plot H25, H26, K18, L23, M27, N13, N14, N27, N28, O17, P23, R17, S18, T17 in site A within the BEF-China experiment.

The central 36 tree individuals in each plot. Total 14 plots in Site A (H25, H26, K18, L23, M27, N13, N14, N27, N28, O17, P23, R17, S18, T17) were registered, segmented and parameter retrieved.

The measurements were during March when after weeding and deciduous trees are under leaf-off condition, in order to minimize the occlusion from deciduous tree foliage and from understory vegetation.

Data can be used to estimate coverage, biomass, and tree structure