Using MERIS on Envisat for land cover mapping in the Netherlands

This paper describes the results of a feasibility study to test the usefulness of MERIS for land cover mapping. The Netherlands was used as a test site because of its highly fragmented landscape. Results showed that the geometric and radiometric properties of the studied MERIS images of the Netherlands are suitable for land applications. Calculation of principal components and correlation coefficients revealed that the 15 MERIS bands provided a lot of redundant spectral information. For land applications, information came from the visible part of the spectrum on the one hand and from the near-infrared part on the other hand. In addition, the red-edge slope of the reflectance curve (in particular MERIS band 9 at about 708nm) provided supplementary information. The Dutch land use database LGN5 was used as a reference for classifications in this study after aggregation from 25 m to 300 m and recoding to 7 relevant land cover classes. For land cover classification best results in terms of classification accuracies were obtained for the image of 14 July 2003. For the seven land cover classes selected the overall classification accuracy was 67.2%. A multitemporal classification did not improve the overall classification accuracy. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01431160600821077 Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-62438 Published Version Originally published at: Clevers, J G P W; Schaepman, M E; Mücher, C A; de Wit, A J W; Zurita‐Milla, R; Bartholomeus, H M (2007). Using MERIS on Envisat for land cover mapping in the Netherlands. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 28(3-4):637-652. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01431160600821077 This article was downloaded by:[Wageningen UR] [Wageningen UR] On: 2 July 2007 Access Details: [subscription number 768412429] Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK International Journal of Remote Sensing Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713722504 Using MERIS on Envisat for land cover mapping in the Netherlands Online Publication Date: 01 January 2007 To cite this Article: Clevers, J. G. P. W., Schaepman, M. E., Mücher, C. A., de Wit, A. J. W., Zurita-Milla, R. and Bartholomeus, H. M. , (2007) 'Using MERIS on Envisat for land cover mapping in the Netherlands', International Journal of Remote Sensing, 28:3, 637 652 To link to this article: DOI: 10.1080/01431160600821077 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01431160600821077 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article maybe used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. © Taylor and Francis 2007 D ow nl oa de d B y: [W ag en in ge n U R ] A t: 15 :4 4 2 Ju ly 2 00 7 Using MERIS on Envisat for land cover mapping in the Netherlands J. G. P. W. CLEVERS*, M. E. SCHAEPMAN, C. A. MÜCHER, A. J. W. DE WIT, R. ZURITA-MILLA and H. M. BARTHOLOMEUS Centre for Geo-Information (CGI), Wageningen-UR, P.O. Box 47, NL-6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands This paper describes the results of a feasibility study to test the usefulness of MERIS for land cover mapping. The Netherlands was used as a test site because of its highly fragmented landscape. Results showed that the geometric and radiometric properties of the studied MERIS images of the Netherlands are suitable for land applications. Calculation of principal components and correlation coefficients revealed that the 15 MERIS bands provided a lot of redundant spectral information. For land applications, information came from the visible part of the spectrum on the one hand and from the near-infrared part on the other hand. In addition, the red-edge slope of the reflectance curve (in particular MERIS band 9 at about 708 nm) provided supplementary information. The Dutch land use database LGN5 was used as a reference for classifications in this study after aggregation from 25 m to 300 m and recoding to 7 relevant land cover classes. For land cover classification best results in terms of classification accuracies were obtained for the image of 14 July 2003. For the seven land cover classes selected the overall classification accuracy was 67.2%. A multitemporal classification did not improve the overall classification accuracy.