This dataset is comprised of raw and proceesed data from the NERC-funded, full waveform terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) deployed on a plot site situated in Malaysia Sabah Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve on the 20th March 2017 . The plot site had the following geographical features; Moisture type: Moist, Elevation: Lowland, Edaphic Type: Terra Firme, Forrestry: Old-growth. The aim of the weighing trees with lasers project is to test if current allometric relationships are invariant across continents, or whether they differ significantly, and require continental level models; quantify the impact of assumptions of tree shape and wood density on tropical forest allometry; test hypotheses relating to pan-tropical differences in observed AGB (Above Ground Biomass) from satellite and field data. It also aims to apply new knowledge to assessing retrieval accuracy of forthcoming ESA BIOMASS and NASA GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation Lidar) missions and providing calibration datasets; In addition to testing the capability of low-cost instruments to augment TLS data including: UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle) for mapping cover and canopy height; low-cost lidar instruments to assess biomass rapidly, at lower accuracy.

This dataset is comprised of raw and proceesed data from the NERC-funded, full waveform terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) deployed on a plot site situated in the Danum Valley Conservation Area. Danum Valley Conservation Area is a 438 square kilometres (169 sq mi) tract of relatively undisturbed lowland dipterocarp forest in Sabah, Malaysia. It has an extensive diversity of tropical flora and fauna. There were no human settlements within the area before it became a conservation area, meaning that hunting, logging and other human interference were non-existent, making the area almost unique. It is managed by Yayasan Sabah for conservation, research, education, and habitat restoration training purposes. The aim of the weighing trees with lasers project is to test if current allometric relationships are invariant across continents, or whether they differ significantly, and require continental level models; quantify the impact of assumptions of tree shape and wood density on tropical forest allometry; test hypotheses relating to pan-tropical differences in observed AGB (Above Ground Biomass) from satellite and field data. It also aims to apply new knowledge to assessing retrieval accuracy of forthcoming ESA BIOMASS and NASA GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation Lidar) missions and providing calibration datasets; In addition to testing the capability of low-cost instruments to augment TLS data including: UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle) for mapping cover and canopy height; low-cost lidar instruments to assess biomass rapidly, at lower accuracy.

The data pertains to a single time point 'snapshot' spatial sampling of site characteristics, soil parameters and soil greenhouse gas emissions for two sites (Extensive and Intensive). The extensively managed site ('Extensive'; 240-340 m above sea level; a.s.l.) consisted of an 11.5 ha semi-improved, sheep-grazed pasture at Bangor University's Henfaes Research Station, Abergwyngregyn, North Wales (53°13'13''N, 4°0'34''W). The intensively managed site ('Intensive'; on average 160 m a.s.l.) was a 1.78 ha sheep-grazed pasture located in south-west England, at the North Wyke Farm Platform (NWFP), Rothamsted Research, Okehampton, Devon (50°46'10''N, 30°54'05''W). At the Extensive site soil and gas sampling was conducted on 30th November 2016. At the Intensive site soil and gas sampling was conducted on 1st August 2016. The data contains: site characteristics including elevation, slope, compound topographic index, vegetation type or manure application, and sample point grid references; soil parameters including soil bulk density, soil percentage water-filled pore space, soil moisture, soil organic matter contents, soil pH, soil nitrate nitrogen concentration, soil ammonium nitrogen concentration, soil percentage total carbon contents, soil percentage total nitrogen contents, and carbon to nitrogen content ratio; and soil greenhouse gas flux data for nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane. The study was conducted as a wider part of the NERC funded Uplands-N2O project and BBSRC-supported Rothamsted Research, North Wyke Farm Platform (Grant Nos: NE/M015351/1, NE/M013847/1, NE/M013154/1, BBS/E/C/000J0100, BBS/E/C/000I0320, BBS/E/C/000I0330). Quantifying the spatial and variability of the drivers of greenhouse gas emissions and their interactions in grazing systems is critical to improve our understanding of nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane fluxes, enabling better estimates of aggregated greenhouse gas emissions and associated uncertainties at the landscape scale. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/f3118fa8-6bec-488b-9713-2415912b8b9e