This dataset contains aboveground biomass estimates generated using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) techniques for different species of tree. It was used to produce the figures and statistics of the publication "Estimating forest aboveground biomass with terrestrial laser scanning: current status and future directions". This dataset contains 391 entries. Each entry is a tree that was terrestrial laser scanned and consecutively harvested to assess its aboveground biomass (AGB). AGB was also obtained from allometric scaling equations. Several ancillary tree properties such as stem diameter, foliage conditions,... and scan metadata (type of scanner, pattern) are included. We refer to the tab 'headers' for an explanation and units of the respective columns. Elaborate method descriptions can be found in the publication or in the following publications, which can be found in the documentation sections

This dataset is comprised of raw data from the NERC-funded, full waveform terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) deployed at sites on three continents, multiple countries and plot locations. Plot CBN-02 is part of the Global Ecosystem Monitoring (GEM) and is located in the rainforests of Malaysian Borneo. Please note that this data is not registered and therefore there are no rotation matrices. The TLS data were collected on a 10 m x 10 m grid where at each position the scanner captured data in an upright and tilted position. The scanner was set to an angular step of 0.04 degrees for all scans. In between each scan position, a set of retro-reflective targets were positioned to be used as tie-points between scans. For more information on TLS acquisition refer to Wilkes et al. (2017). Scan data were coregistered using RiSCAN Pro, the 4x4 rotation transformation matrices to transform the point cloud data into a common reference coordinate system can be found in the "matrix" directory.

This dataset is comprised of raw data from the NERC-funded, full waveform terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) deployed at sites on three continents, multiple countries and plot locations. Plot SAF-03 is part of the Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystem (SAFE) Project located in the rainforests of Malaysian Borneo. The TLS data were collected on a 10 m x 10 m grid where at each position the scanner captured data in an upright and tilted position. The scanner was set to an angular step of 0.04 degrees for all scans. In between each scan position, a set of retro-reflective targets were positioned to be used as tie-points between scans. For more information on TLS acquisition refer to Wilkes et al. (2017). Scan data were coregistered using RiSCAN Pro, the 4x4 rotation transformation matrices to transform the point cloud data into a common reference coordinate system can be found in the "matrix" directory.

This dataset is comprised of raw data from the NERC-funded, full waveform terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) deployed at sites on three continents, multiple countries and plot locations. Plot VCR-02 is located in Nova Xavantina, Brazil, is part of the Global Ecosystem Monitoring (GEM) network and is managed by UNEMAT The TLS data were collected on a 10 m x 10 m grid where at each position the scanner captured data in an upright and tilted position. The scanner was set to an angular step of 0.04 degrees for all scans. In between each scan position, a set of retro-reflective targets were positioned to be used as tie-points between scans. For more information on TLS acquisition refer to Wilkes et al. (2017). Scan data were coregistered using RiSCAN Pro, the 4x4 rotation transformation matrices to transform the point cloud data into a common reference coordinate system can be found in the "matrix" directory.

This dataset is comprised of raw data from the NERC-funded, full waveform terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) deployed at sites on three continents, multiple countries and plot locations. Plot NXV-02 is located in Nova Xavantina, Brazil, is part of the Global Ecosystem Monitoring (GEM) network and is managed by UNEMAT The TLS data were collected on a 10 m x 10 m grid where at each position the scanner captured data in an upright and tilted position. The scanner was set to an angular step of 0.04 degrees for all scans. In between each scan position, a set of retro-reflective targets were positioned to be used as tie-points between scans. For more information on TLS acquisition refer to Wilkes et al. (2017). Scan data were coregistered using RiSCAN Pro, the 4x4 rotation transformation matrices to transform the point cloud data into a common reference coordinate system can be found in the "matrix" directory.

This dataset is comprised of raw data from the NERC-funded, full waveform terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) deployed at sites on three continents, multiple countries and plot locations. Plot SAF-05 is part of the Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystem (SAFE) Project located in the rainforests of Malaysian Borneo. The TLS data were collected on a 10 m x 10 m grid where at each position the scanner captured data in an upright and tilted position. The scanner was set to an angular step of 0.04 degrees for all scans. In between each scan position, a set of retro-reflective targets were positioned to be used as tie-points between scans. For more information on TLS acquisition refer to Wilkes et al. (2017). Scan data were coregistered using RiSCAN Pro, the 4x4 rotation transformation matrices to transform the point cloud data into a common reference coordinate system can be found in the "matrix" directory.

This dataset is comprised of raw data from the NERC-funded, full waveform terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) deployed at sites on three continents, multiple countries and plot locations. Plot NXV-01 is located in Nova Xavantina, Brazil, is part of the Global Ecosystem Monitoring (GEM) network and is managed by UNEMAT The TLS data were collected on a 10 m x 10 m grid where at each position the scanner captured data in an upright and tilted position. The scanner was set to an angular step of 0.04 degrees for all scans. In between each scan position, a set of retro-reflective targets were positioned to be used as tie-points between scans. For more information on TLS acquisition refer to Wilkes et al. (2017). Scan data were coregistered using RiSCAN Pro, the 4x4 rotation transformation matrices to transform the point cloud data into a common reference coordinate system can be found in the "matrix" directory.

This dataset is comprised of raw data from the NERC-funded, full waveform terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) deployed at sites on three continents, multiple countries and plot locations. Plot CRP-01 is located in Nova Xavantina, Brazil, is part of the Global Ecosystem Monitoring (GEM) network and is managed by UNEMAT The TLS data were collected on a 10 m x 10 m grid where at each position the scanner captured data in an upright and tilted position. The scanner was set to an angular step of 0.04 degrees for all scans. In between each scan position, a set of retro-reflective targets were positioned to be used as tie-points between scans. For more information on TLS acquisition refer to Wilkes et al. (2017). Scan data were coregistered using RiSCAN Pro, the 4x4 rotation transformation matrices to transform the point cloud data into a common reference coordinate system can be found in the "matrix" directory.

This dataset is comprised of raw data from the NERC-funded, full waveform terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) deployed at sites on three continents, multiple countries and plot locations. Plot CRP-02 is located in Nova Xavantina, Brazil, is part of the Global Ecosystem Monitoring (GEM) network and is managed by UNEMAT The TLS data were collected on a 10 m x 10 m grid where at each position the scanner captured data in an upright and tilted position. The scanner was set to an angular step of 0.04 degrees for all scans. In between each scan position, a set of retro-reflective targets were positioned to be used as tie-points between scans. For more information on TLS acquisition refer to Wilkes et al. (2017). Scan data were coregistered using RiSCAN Pro, the 4x4 rotation transformation matrices to transform the point cloud data into a common reference coordinate system can be found in the "matrix" directory.

This collection is part of the European Space Agency (ESA) funded ForestScan project designed to improve the use of new Earth Observation (EO) estimates of above ground biomass (AGB) by providing TLS-, unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV-LS)- and airborne (ALS) LiDAR scanning-derived AGB and tree census data to compare to allometric and EO-derived estimates. The collection contains a multiscale dataset of tropical forest 3D structural measurements, including terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), unoccupied aerial vehicle LiDAR scanning (UAV-LS), airborne laser scanning (ALS), and in-situ tree census and ancillary data. ForestScan was conceived to evaluate new technologies for characterising forest structure and biomass at Forest Biomass Reference Measurement Sites (FBRMS). These data are critical for the calibration and validation of earth observation (EO) estimates of forest biomass, as well as providing broader insights into tropical forest structure. Data are presented for the first three Forest Biomass Research Monitoring Sites in Paracou Research Station in French Guiana; Station d'Etudes des Gorilles et Chimpanzes, Lopé National Park in Gabon; and Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, Malaysia. Field data for each site include new 3D LiDAR measurements combined with plot tree census and ancillary data, unmanned aerial vehicle-based laser scanning (UAV-LS) and airborne laser scanning (ALS) where possible, at a multi-hectare scale. Not all data types were collected at all sites, reflecting the practical challenges of field data collection. We also provide detailed field data collection protocols for TLS, UAV-LS, and ALS measurements for each site, along with requirements for ancillary data to enable integration with ALS data (where possible) and upscaling to EO estimates. The ForestScan project is closely aligned with other international initiatives, particularly the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Working Group on Calibration & Validation (WGCV) AGB cal/val protocols, and GEO-TREES, a new Group on Earth Observations (GEO) initiative aimed at establishing a network of FBRM sites. ForestScan is the first demonstration of what could be achieved more broadly under GEO-TREES, which would significantly expand and enhance the use of EO-derived AGB estimates