Aspects of the present invention are directed at using LiDAR data to
identify attributes of vegetation. In this regard, a method is provided
that allocates points to individual items of vegetation from raw LiDAR
data. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a coordinate
position represented in the LiDAR data that generated a return signal.
Then, a determination is made regarding whether the selected coordinate
position is inside a geographic area allocated to a previously identified
item of vegetation. If the selected coordinate position is not within a
geographic area allocated to a previously identified item of vegetation,
the method determines that the selected coordinate position is associated
with a new item of vegetation. In this instance, a digital representation
of the new item of vegetation is generated.