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Forest above-ground biomass (AGB) can be estimated based on light detection and ranging (LiDAR) point clouds. This paper introduces an accurate and detailed quantitative structure model (AdQSM), which can estimate the AGB of large tropical trees. AdQSM is based on the reconstruction of 3D tree models from terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) point clouds. It represents a tree as a set of closed and complete convex polyhedra. We use AdQSM to model 29 trees of various species (total 18 species) scanned by TLS from three study sites (the dense tropical forests of Peru, Indonesia, and Guyana). The destructively sampled tree geometry measurement data is used as reference values to evaluate the accuracy of diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, tree volume, branch volume, and AGB estimated from AdQSM. After AdQSM reconstructs the structure and volume of each tree, AGB is derived by combining the wood density of the specific tree species from destructive sampling. The AGB estimation from AdQSM and the post-harvest reference measurement data show a satisfying agreement. The coefficient of variation of root mean square error (CV-RMSE) and the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) are 20.37% and 0.97, respectively. AdQSM provides accurate tree volume estimation, regardless of the characteristics of the tree structure, without major systematic deviations. We compared the accuracy of AdQSM and TreeQSM in modeling the volume of 29 trees. The tree volume from AdQSM is compared with the reference value, and the determination coefficient (R2), relative bias (rBias), and CV-RMSE of tree volume are 0.96, 6.98%, and 22.62%, respectively. The tree volume from TreeQSM is compared with the reference value, and the R2, relative Bias (rBias), and CV-RMSE of tree volume are 0.94, −9.69%, and 23.20%, respectively. The CCCs between the volume estimates based on AdQSM, TreeQSM, and the reference values are 0.97 and 0.96. AdQSM also models the branches in detail. The volume of branches from AdQSM is compared with the destructive measurement reference data. The R2, rBias, and CV-RMSE of the branches volume are 0.97, 12.38%, and 36.86%, respectively. The DBH and height of the harvested trees were used as reference values to test the accuracy of AdQSM’s estimation of DBH and tree height. The R2, rBias, and CV-RMSE of DBH are 0.94, −5.01%, and 9.06%, respectively. The R2, rBias, and CV-RMSE of the tree height were 0.95, 1.88%, and 5.79%, respectively. This paper provides not only a new QSM method for estimating AGB based on TLS point clouds but also the potential for further development and testing of allometric equations.

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An order 3 magic hexagon resembles the shape of a 19-cell honeycomb, arranged in a 3 4 5 4 3 manner. The requirement is to fill the numbers 1-19 in the grids so that each row (15 in total) adds up to 38. Previously invented methods aimed at solving this problem and proving its uniqueness were either not rigorous enough or too intricate. So by analyzing its properties, I wanted to find a combinatorial solution to its construction, prove its uniqueness, and investigate whether its mathematical principles can be used in real-world applications. The difficulty depends on the viewpoint, so the first step was to label each grid in a convenient way. I chose to look at the magic hexagon as a network composed of a center and rings. Then the connections and restrictions of each number set could be found by formula derivation. In a similar fashion, symmetrical properties were also found. The next step was to analyze possible distributions of odd and even numbers. Out of the 9 configurations, only 1 proved to be usable. The final step was construction. With all the properties known, the few impossibilities were easily eliminated, and only one solution remained, thus proving its uniqueness. The procedures used on the order 3 magic hexagon may be extended to those of higher orders, providing more ease in their construction. The unique properties of magic hexagons may be used in some fields of application, such as in password systems, large-scale roof structure, composite material, national security systems and many other fields.

Pell equation is an important research object in elementary number theory of indefinite equation. its form is simple, but it is rich in nature. Many number theory problems can be transformed into the problem of Pell equation’s solvability. However, the previous methods in determining the Pell equation’s solvability are sophisticated for calculation, which leads to the lack of efficiency. This paper gives new and more widely used methods to determine the solvability of Pell equation, including several necessary conditions, sufficient conditions and necessary and sufficient conditions.