Satellite Data and Geographic Information System for Land Use Classification

Abstract

Landsat Multispectral Scanner System (MSS) data in conjunction with the unsupervised classification technique of Earth Resources Laboratory Application Software (ELAS) were used to determine land use/land cover classifications. The Landsat computer compatible tapes (CCT) for February 9, 1976 were analyzed to spectrally classify unique land use/land cover conditions within the Econlockhatchee (Econ) River basin, Florida. The results showed that the scatter diagrams of Band 4 (0.5-0.6μm)‐Band 7 (0.8-1.1μm) and Band 4‐Band 6 (0.7-0.8μm) can be utilized as well as the traditional Band 5 (0.6-0.7μm)‐Band 7 scatter diagram approach for classifying land use/land cover. Both the zoom transfer scope and the geographic information system have been demonstrated to be very useful tools for land use/land cover classification of Landsat data. The Landsat data can be successfully used to monitor the USGS land use/land cover Level I, and the cost and time requirements for the Landsat approach are much less than for the conventional method. Another benefit of Landsat data is that new data are periodically available for updating the land use/land cover information.