Mapping and Improving Frequency, Accuracy, and Interpretation of Land Cover Change: ClassifyingCoastal Louisiana With 1990, 1993, 1996, and 1999 Landsat Thematic Mapper Image Data

摘要

Abstract-Landsat Thematic Mapper images and collateral data sources were used to classify the land coverof the Mermentau River Basin within the chenier coastal plain and the adjacent uplands of Louisiana, USA.Landcover classes followed that of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coastal ChangeAnalysis Program; however, classification methods needed to be developed to meet these national standards.Our first classification was limited to the Mermentau River Basin (MRB) in southcentral Louisiana, and theyears of 1990, 1993, and 1996. To overcome problems due to class spectral inseparable, spatial and spectracontinuums, mixed landcovers, and abnormal transitions, we separated the coastal area into regions ofcommonality and applying masks to specific land mixtures. Over the three years and 14 landcover classes(aggregating the cultivated land and grassland, and water and floating vegetation classes), overall accuraciesranged from 82% to 90%. To enhance landcover change interpretation, three indicators were introduced asLocation Stability, Residence stability, andTurnover. Implementing methodssubstantiated in the multiple date MRBclassification, we spatially extended theclassification to the entire Louisiana coast andtemporally extended the original 1990, 1993,1996 classifications to 1999 (Figure 1). We alsoadvanced the operational functionality of theclassification and increased the credibility ofchange detection results. Increasedoperational functionality that resulted indiminished user input was for the most partgained by implementing a classification logicbased on forbidden transitions. The logicdetected and corrected misclassifications andmostly alleviated the necessity of subregionseparation prior to the classification. The newmethods provided an improved ability formore timely detection and response tolandcover impact.