Professor Ruben Valbuena
Honorary Professor

Affiliations
Contact info
Room: G19, Thoday Building, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University
Email: r.valbuena@bangor.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)1248 38 2445
Web: GoogleScholar, ResearchGate, Publons
My work consists in the use of big data to answer ecological questions at the ecosystem community and landscape levels. I use remote sensing data, LIDAR in particular, due to its great potential for analysing structural and morphological traits of ecosystems, and thus estimate carbon stocks, ecosystem services, or habitat suitability for species. During the last seven years, I have pioneer adaptations of methods based on Lorenz curves to forest science and remote sensing; work awarded with the International Union of Forest Researchers (IUFRO) 2019’s Outstanding Doctoral Research Award.
- Article › Research › Peer-reviewed
- Published
A Conceptual Model for Detecting Small-Scale Forest Disturbances Based on Ecosystem Morphological Traits
Stoddart, J., Almeida, D., Silva, C. A., Gorgens, E. B., Keller, M. & Valbuena, R., 15 Feb 2022, In: Remote Sensing. 14, 4Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
A Simple Approach of Groundwater Quality Analysis, Classification, and Mapping in Peshawar, Pakistan
Adnan, S., Iqbal, J., Maltamo, M., Bacha, M. S., Shahab, A. & Valbuena, R., 7 Dec 2019, In: Environments. 6, 12Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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A method for optimizing height threshold when computing airborne laser scanning metrics
Gorgens, E. B., Valbuena, R. & Rodriguez, L. C. E., 1 May 2017, In: Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. 83, 5, p. 343-350 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
A new era in forest restoration monitoring
de Almeida, D. R. A., Stark, S. C., Valbuena, R., Broadbent, E. N., Silva, T. S. F., de Resende, A. F., Ferreira, M. P., Cardil, A., Silva, C. A., Amazonas, N., Zambrano, A. M. A. & Brancalion, P. H. S., 30 Jan 2020, In: Restoration Ecology. 28, 1, p. 8-11 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
A simple approach to forest structure classification using airborne laser scanning that can be adopted across bioregions
Adnan, S., Maltamo, M., Coomes, D. A., García-Abril, A., Malhi, Y., Manzanera, J. A., Butt, N., Morecroft, M. & Valbuena, R., 15 Feb 2019, In: Forest Ecology and Management. 433, p. 111 - 121Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Aboveground biomass density models for NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) lidar mission
Duncanson, L., Kellner, J. R., Armston, J., Dubayah, R., Minor, D. M., Hancock, S., Healey, S. P., Patterson, P. L., Saarela, S., Marselis, S., Silva, C. E., Bruening, J., Goetz, S. J., Tang, H., Hofton, M., Blair, B., Luthcke, S., Fatoyinbo, L., Abernethy, K., Alonso, A., Andersen, H.-E., Aplin, P., Baker, T. R., Barbier, N., Bastin, J. F., Biber, P., Boeckx, P., Bogaert, J., Boschetti, L., Boucher, P. B., Boyd, D. S., Burslem, D. F. R. P., Calvo-Rodriguez, S., Chave, J., Chazdon, R. L., Clark, D. B., Clark, D. A., Cohen, W. B., Coomes, D. A., Corona, P., Cushman, K. C., Cutler, M. E. J., Dalling, J. W., Dalponte, M., Dash, J., de-Miguel, S., Deng, S., Ellis, P. W., Erasmus, B., Fekety, P. A., Fernandez-Landa, A., Ferraz, A., Fischer, R., Fisher, A. G., García-Abril, A., Gobakken, T., Hacker, J. M., Heurich, M., Hill, R. A., Hopkinson, C., Huang, H., Hubbell, S. P., Hudak, A. T., Huth, A., Imbach, B., Jeffery, K. J., Katoh, M., Kearsley, E., Kenfack, D., Kljun, N., Knapp, N., Král, K., Krůček, M., Labrière, N., Lewis, S. L., Longo, M., Lucas, R. M., Main, R., Manzanera, J. A., Martínez, R. V., Mathieu, R., Memiaghe, H., Meyer, V., Mendoza, A. M., Monerris, A., Montesano, P., Morsdorf, F., Næsset, E., Naidoo, L., Nilus, R., O’Brien, M., Orwig, D. A., Papathanassiou, K., Parker, G., Philipson, C., Phillips, O. L., Pisek, J., Poulsen, J. R., Pretzsch, H., Rüdiger, C., Saatchi, S., Sanchez-Azofeifa, A., Sanchez-Lopez, N., Scholes, R., Silva, C. A., Simard, M., Skidmore, A., Stereńczak, K., Tanase, M., Torresan, C., Valbuena, R., Verbeeck, H., Vrska, T., Wessels, K., White, J. C., White, L. J. T., Zahabu, E. & Zgraggen, C., 2022, In: Remote Sensing of Environment. 270Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Accuracy and precision of GPS receivers under forest canopies in a mountainous environment [Exactitud y precisiońn de receptores GPS bajo cubiertas forestales en ambientes montañosos]
Valbuena, R., Mauro, F., Rodriguez-Solano, R. & Manzanera, J. A., 2010, In: Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research. 8, 4, p. 1047-1057 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Airborne laser scanning for tree diameter distribution modelling: a comparison of different modelling alternatives in a tropical single-species plantation
Maltamo, M., Mehtatalo, L., Valbuena, R., Vauhkonen, J. & Packalen, P., Jan 2018, In: Forestry. 91, 1, p. 121-131Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Analysis of Mediterranean Vegetation Fuel Type Changes Using Multitemporal LiDAR
García-Cimarras, A., Manzanera, J. A. & Valbuena, R., 12 Mar 2021, In: Forests. 12, 3Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Automated operational logging plan considering multi-criteria optimization
Görgens, E. B., Mund, J.-P., Cremer, T., Conto, T. D., Krause, S., Valbuena, R. & Rodriguez, L. C. E., 1 Mar 2020, In: Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 170, p. 105253 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Beyond trees: Mapping total aboveground biomass density in the Brazilian savanna using high-density UAV-lidar data
Costa, M. B. T. D., Silva, C. A., Broadbent, E. N., Leite, R. V., Mohan, M., Liesenberg, V., Stoddart, J., Amaral, C. H. D., Almeida, D. R. A. D., Silva, A. L. D., Goya, L. R. R. Y., Cordeiro, V. A., Rex, F., Hirsch, A., Marcatti, G. E., Cardil, A., Mendonça, B. A. F. D., Hamamura, C., Corte, A. P. D., Matricardi, E. A. T., Hudak, A. T., Zambrano, A. M. A., Valbuena, R., Faria, B. L. D., Junior, C. H. L. S., Aragao, L., Ferreira, M. E., Liang, J., Carvalho, S. D. P. C. E. & Klauberg, C., 1 Jul 2021, In: Forest Ecology and Management. 491, p. 119155 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Canonical correlation analysis for interpreting airborne laser scanning metrics along the lorenz curve of tree size inequality
Valbuena, R., Packalen, P., Tokola, T. & Maltamo, M., 2014, In: Baltic Forestry. 20, 2, p. 326-332 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Characterizing forest structural types and shelterwood dynamics from Lorenz-based indicators predicted by airborne laser scanning
Valbuena, R., Packalen, P., Mehtätalo, L., García-Abril, A. & Maltamo, M., 2013, In: Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 43, 11, p. 1063-1074 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Classification of forest development stages from national low-density lidar datasets: A comparison of machine learning methods [Clasificación de etapas de desarrollo forestal a partir de datos de vuelos lidar nacionales de baja densidad: Comparación de métodos de aprendizaje automático]
Valbuena, R., Maltamo, M. & Packalen, P., 1 Feb 2016, In: Revista de Teledeteccion. 45, Special Issue, p. 15-25 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Classification of multilayered forest development classes from low-density national airborne lidar datasets
Valbuena, R., Maltamo, M. & Packalen, P., Aug 2016, In: Forestry. 89, 4, p. 392-401 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Combined Impact of Sample Size and Modeling Approaches for Predicting Stem Volume in Eucalyptus spp. Forest Plantations Using Field and LiDAR Data
Silva, V. S. D., Silva, C. A., Mohan, M., Cardil, A., Rex, F. E., Loureiro, G. H., Almeida, D. R. A. D., Broadbent, E. N., Gorgens, E. B., Dalla Corte, A. P., Silva, E. A., Valbuena, R. & Klauberg, C., 1 May 2020, In: Remote Sensing. 12, 9Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Comparing airborne laser scanning-imagery fusion methods based on geometric accuracy in forested areas
Valbuena, R., Mauro, F., Arjonilla, F. J. & Manzanera, J. A., 15 Aug 2011, In: Remote Sensing of Environment. 115, 8, p. 1942-1954 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Comparison of Statistical Modelling Approaches for Estimating Tropical Forest Aboveground Biomass Stock and Reporting Their Changes in Low-Intensity Logging Areas Using Multi-Temporal LiDAR Data
Rex, F. E., Silva, C. A., Dalla Corte, A. P., Klauberg, C., Mohan, M., Cardil, A., Silva, V. S. D., Almeida, D. R. A. D., Garcia, M., Broadbent, E. N., Valbuena, R., Stoddart, J., Merrick, T. & Hudak, A. T., 8 May 2020, In: Remote Sensing. 12, 9, 1498.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Comparison of airborne laser scanning methods for estimating forest structure indicators based on Lorenz curves
Valbuena, R., Vauhkonen, J., Packalen, P., Pitkanen, J. & Maltamo, M., Sept 2014, In: ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. 95, p. 23-33Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Concerns about reported harvests in European forests
Palahí, M., Valbuena, R., Senf, C., Acil, N., Pugh, T. A. M., Sadler, J., Seidl, R., Potapov, P., Gardiner, B., Hetemäki1, L., Chirici, G., Francini, S., Hlásny, T., Lerink, B. J. W., Olsson, H., Olabarria, J. R. G., Ascoli, D., Asikainen, A., Bauhus, J., Berndes, G., Donis, J., Fridman, J., Hanewinkel, M., Jactel, H., Lindner, M., Marchetti, M., Marušák, R., Sheil, D., Tomé, M., Trasobares, A., Verkerk, P. J., Korhonen, M. & Nabuurs, G.-J., 29 Apr 2021, In: Nature. 592, 7856, p. E15-E17Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Continuous Cover Forestry and Remote Sensing : A Review of Knowledge Gaps, Challenges, and Potential Directions
Stoddart, J., Suarez, J., Mason, W. & Valbuena, R., Dec 2023, In: Current Forestry Reports. 9, 6, p. 490-501 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Contrasting fire damage and fire susceptibility between seasonally flooded forest and upland forest in the Central Amazon using portable profiling LiDAR
Alves de Almeida, D. R., Nelson, B. W., Schietti, J., Gorgens, E. B., Resende, A. F., Stark, S. C. & Valbuena, R., Oct 2016, In: Remote Sensing of Environment. 184, p. 153-160Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Current Trends in Forest Ecological Applications of Three-Dimensional Remote Sensing: Transition from Experimental to Operational Solutions?
Latifi, H. & Valbuena, R., 9 Oct 2019, In: Forests. 10, 10Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Detecting successional changes in tropical forest structure using GatorEye drone-borne lidar
Alves de Almeida, D. R., Almeyda Zambrano, A. M., Broadbent, E. N., Wendt, A. L., Foster, P., Wilkinson, B. E., Salk, C., Papa, D. D. A., Stark, S. C., Valbuena, R., Gorgens, E. B., Silva, C. A., Santin Brancalion, P. H., Fagan, M., Meli, P. & Chazdon, R., Nov 2020, In: Biotropica. 52, 6, p. 1155-1167 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Determining maximum entropy in 3D remote sensing height distributions and using it to improve aboveground biomass modelling via stratification
Adnan, S., Maltamo, M., Mehtätalo, L., Ammaturo, R. N. L., Packalen, P. & Valbuena, R., Jul 2021, In: Remote Sensing of Environment. 260, p. 112464 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review