This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Franklin, S. E. Articles by Wulder, M. A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Remote sensing methods in medium spatial resolution satellite data land cover classification of large areas

Department of Geography, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4

M. A. Wulder

Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8Z 1M5

Numerous large-area, multiple image-based, multiple sensor land cover mapping programs exist or have been proposed, often within the context of national forest monitoring, mapping and modelling initiatives, worldwide. Common methodological steps have been identified that include data acquisition and preprocessing, map legend development, classification approach, stratification, incorporation of ancillary data and accuracy assessment. In general, procedures used in any large-area land cover classification must be robust and repeatable; because of data acquisition parameters, it is likely that compilation of the maps based on the classification will occur with original image acquisitions of different seasonality and perhaps acquired in different years and by different sensors. This situation poses some new challenges beyond those encountered in large-area single image classifications. The objective of this paper is to review and assess general medium spatial resolution satellite remote sensing land cover classification approaches with the goal of identifying the outstanding issues that must be overcome in order to implement a large-area, land cover classification protocol.

Key Words: land cover mapping • large-area classification • remote sensing

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. S. Boyd and F. M. Danson Satellite remote sensing of forest resources: three decades of research development Progress in Physical Geography, March 1, 2005; 29(1): 1 - 26. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. Aplin Remote sensing: land cover Progress in Physical Geography, June 1, 2004; 28(2): 283 - 293. [PDF]