Abstract | Keywords | Export | Availability | Bookmark

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

The Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) is a comprehensive, standardized a priori classification system, designed to meet specific user requirements, and created for mapping exercises, independent of the scale or means used to map. Any land cover identified anywhere in the world can be readily accommodated. The classification uses a set of independent diagnostic criteria that allow correlation with existing classifications and legends. Land cover classes are defined by a combination of a set of independent diagnostic criteria--the so-called classifiers--that are hierarchically arranged to assure a high degree of geographical accuracy. Because of the heterogeneity of land cover, the same set of classifiers cannot be used to define all land cover types. The hierarchical structure of the classifiers may differ from one land cover type to another. Therefore, the classification has two main phases: an initial Dichotomous Phase, where eight major land cover types are distinguished; and a subsequent Modular-Hierarchical Phase where the set of classifiers and their hierarchical arrangement are tailored to the major land cover type. This approach allows the use of the most appropriate classifiers and reduces the total number of impractical combinations of classifiers. Because of the complexity of the classification and the need for standardization, a software application has been developed to assist the interpretation process. This will reduce heterogeneity between interpreters and between interpretations over time. Because of the flexible manner in which the classification is set up, with creation of classes at different levels of the system and the optional use of modifiers, environmental attributes and specific technical attributes in combination, coupled with the tremendous number of classes possible, this innovative software application assists the user to select the appropriate class using a step-by-step process, i.e., classifier by classifier. The software application will be available both as a stand-alone product and integrated into a digital image interpretation software suite which will allow interpretation of imagery followed by labelling of the mapping units with the land cover classes, the Africover Interpretation and Mapping System (AIMS)

Cover crops --- Land use --- Vegetation classification. --- Environmental Sciences and Forestry. Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems --- Geographical Information Systems. --- Vegetation classification --- Classification --- Land use - Classification --- Cover crops - Classification