1. A computer system, comprising: a processor that is configured to execute a sequence of programmed instructions that cause the processor to: read LiDAR data obtained from unidentified trees in a forest; select a LiDAR point cloud for an unidentified tree in the forest; compare data points in the selected LiDAR point cloud for the unidentified tree to data points in a point cloud defined in a library of LiDAR models for a number of standard trees; determine a similarity between the data points in the LiDAR point cloud for the unidentified tree and the data points in a point cloud defined by a LiDAR model for a standard tree, and to associate one or more characteristics stored in the LiDAR model for the standard tree with the unidentified tree based on the similarity.