Estimation of Crop Height Distribution for Mature Rice Based on a Moving Surface and 3D Point Cloud Elevation
, Lizhang Xu 1,*, Liying Wang 2 and Pengpeng Zhang 1Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This paper describes a method for estimation of rice crop height using a LiDAR system. While the study is not novel as there have been a lot of such studies for field (rice, wheat, corn etc.) as well as tree crops (apple, vines etc.), such studies may be needed to re-validate the use of such technologies in crop height estimation. However, the manuscript is not well written, lacks flow, has some key details missing, and a lot of English usage/grammatical issues throughout the manuscript.
General comments:
- The authors should consult the author's guide to format the manuscript, especially for citing other work and use of units.
- Introduction can be improved by adding some more recent studies on crop height estimation using LiDAR system. It would be highly beneficial for the readers to be specific about the results of other people's studies, not just mentioning who conducted what study.
- Details regarding ground/manual measurement of canopy is missing in the methodology section. Please see the attached file for specific comments. Figures could be re-ordered to get more clarity for the readers.
- Discussion section needs to be concise.
- Conclusion section needs to edited based on suggestions in the attached file.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
In this manuscript the author used a LiDAR set up for monitoring the height of rice in dense plantation. The author applied several techniques (e..g statistical outlier removal and elevation modelling) to classify the crop height. General comments:
The manuscript needs substantial improvement in terms of syntax and academic style. The intro should be extended providing literature regarding crop height estimation with examples from e.g. from forestry and Horticulture. Whereas, the innovation of this manuscript should be clearly stated before the objectives defining the contibution in contrast with previous studies.
Furthremore, there are several generalisations in the section of M&M. Specifically, the author does not provide enough information regarding the evaluation of height classification and the parameters of statistical outlier removal analysis.
Finally, the conclusions look more like a recap of the whole study, while the author should state the most significant results.
I included all my comments in the attached pdf.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
My suggestions have been communicated effectively for the most part of the study. It was very nice to see a study that the technical and processing aspects were iproved. I would suggest a careful proof-read in addition with a check for some of the terminology. The figures and tables were clear and of a high production quality.
