Uncertainties in Classification System Conversion and an Analysis of Inconsistencies in Global Land Cover Products
In this study, using the common classification systems of IGBP-17, IGBP-9, IPCC-5 and TC (vegetation, wetlands and others only), we studied spatial and areal inconsistencies in the three most recent multi-resource land cover products in a complex mountain-oasis-desert system and quantitatively discu...
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doaj-5b1c251c8b1f4948af684a1e698102cb2020-11-24T21:24:55ZengMDPI AGISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information2220-99642017-04-016411210.3390/ijgi6040112ijgi6040112Uncertainties in Classification System Conversion and an Analysis of Inconsistencies in Global Land Cover ProductsMiao Zhang0Mingguo Ma1Philippe De Maeyer2Alishir Kurban3State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, No. 818 South Beijing Road, Urumqi 830011, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, No. 818 South Beijing Road, Urumqi 830011, ChinaDepartment of Geography, Gent University, Krijgslaan 281, Ghent B-9000, BelgiumState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, No. 818 South Beijing Road, Urumqi 830011, ChinaIn this study, using the common classification systems of IGBP-17, IGBP-9, IPCC-5 and TC (vegetation, wetlands and others only), we studied spatial and areal inconsistencies in the three most recent multi-resource land cover products in a complex mountain-oasis-desert system and quantitatively discussed the uncertainties in classification system conversion. This is the first study to compare these products based on terrain and to quantitatively study the uncertainties in classification system conversion. The inconsistencies and uncertainties decreased from high to low levels of aggregation (IGBP-17 to TC) and from mountain to desert areas, indicating that the inconsistencies are not only influenced by the level of thematic detail and landscape complexity but also related to the conversion uncertainties. The overall areal inconsistency in the comparison of the FROM-GLC and GlobCover 2009 datasets is the smallest among the three pairs, but the smallest overall spatial inconsistency was observed between the FROM-GLC and MODISLC. The GlobCover 2009 had the largest conversion uncertainties due to mosaic land cover definition, with values up to 23.9%, 9.68% and 0.11% in mountainous, oasis and desert areas, respectively. The FROM-GLC had the smallest inconsistency, with values less than 4.58%, 1.89% and 1.2% in corresponding areas. Because the FROM-GLC dataset uses a hierarchical classification scheme with explicit attribution from the second level to the first, this system is suggested for producers of map land cover products in the future.http://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/6/4/112multi-resource land cover productsinconsistencyclassification system conversion uncertaintiesarid regionremote sensing |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Miao Zhang Mingguo Ma Philippe De Maeyer Alishir Kurban |
spellingShingle |
Miao Zhang Mingguo Ma Philippe De Maeyer Alishir Kurban Uncertainties in Classification System Conversion and an Analysis of Inconsistencies in Global Land Cover Products ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information multi-resource land cover products inconsistency classification system conversion uncertainties arid region remote sensing |
author_facet |
Miao Zhang Mingguo Ma Philippe De Maeyer Alishir Kurban |
author_sort |
Miao Zhang |
title |
Uncertainties in Classification System Conversion and an Analysis of Inconsistencies in Global Land Cover Products |
title_short |
Uncertainties in Classification System Conversion and an Analysis of Inconsistencies in Global Land Cover Products |
title_full |
Uncertainties in Classification System Conversion and an Analysis of Inconsistencies in Global Land Cover Products |
title_fullStr |
Uncertainties in Classification System Conversion and an Analysis of Inconsistencies in Global Land Cover Products |
title_full_unstemmed |
Uncertainties in Classification System Conversion and an Analysis of Inconsistencies in Global Land Cover Products |
title_sort |
uncertainties in classification system conversion and an analysis of inconsistencies in global land cover products |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information |
issn |
2220-9964 |
publishDate |
2017-04-01 |
description |
In this study, using the common classification systems of IGBP-17, IGBP-9, IPCC-5 and TC (vegetation, wetlands and others only), we studied spatial and areal inconsistencies in the three most recent multi-resource land cover products in a complex mountain-oasis-desert system and quantitatively discussed the uncertainties in classification system conversion. This is the first study to compare these products based on terrain and to quantitatively study the uncertainties in classification system conversion. The inconsistencies and uncertainties decreased from high to low levels of aggregation (IGBP-17 to TC) and from mountain to desert areas, indicating that the inconsistencies are not only influenced by the level of thematic detail and landscape complexity but also related to the conversion uncertainties. The overall areal inconsistency in the comparison of the FROM-GLC and GlobCover 2009 datasets is the smallest among the three pairs, but the smallest overall spatial inconsistency was observed between the FROM-GLC and MODISLC. The GlobCover 2009 had the largest conversion uncertainties due to mosaic land cover definition, with values up to 23.9%, 9.68% and 0.11% in mountainous, oasis and desert areas, respectively. The FROM-GLC had the smallest inconsistency, with values less than 4.58%, 1.89% and 1.2% in corresponding areas. Because the FROM-GLC dataset uses a hierarchical classification scheme with explicit attribution from the second level to the first, this system is suggested for producers of map land cover products in the future. |
topic |
multi-resource land cover products inconsistency classification system conversion uncertainties arid region remote sensing |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/6/4/112 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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