An efficient approach to standardizing the processing of hemispherical images for the estimation of forest structural attributes

► We study image-related influences on the LAI estimation from hemispherical images. ► These are the radiometric image resolution, file format and image band selection. ► The latter two affect the LAI estimation and hamper the determination of optimum exposure. ► We develop an objective, robust and exposure-independent approach to thresholding. ► This approach enables the standardized processing of hemispherical images.