Using LIDAR to model rainfall interception is advantageous to other interception models in many respects (e.g., Gash, Revised Gash, Rutter, and etc.). While published models on rainfall interception have shown to be highly accurate, most require many parameters and long-time measurements.
To understand regional or watershed-level eco-hydrological processes, LIDAR can provide both the spatial coverage and resolution needed to address such questions.