A land-use classification system for use with remote sensor data

Abstract

New demands on our land resources require more stringent controls and management practices. The administration of these controls requires better and more frequent information concerning land use. Although new tools became available to aid in acquiring and processing the data, a major lack in uniform techniques for isJ-entifying the land use was a major problem. Creation of a more standard form of classification of land use, based on the capabilities inherent in the various forms of remote sensors and other data sources was a necessary step. classification has been created, and published in preliminary form, by the Geological Survey of the United States Department of Interior. It is presented as Geological Survey 671, entitled A Land Use Classification System for Use With RemoteSensor Data. This paper discusses the origin, development, and controlling influences of that classification system. The desire for information about land use is not a new phenanenon. In fact, the concept of the Cadastral Survey dates back to early mideastern settlement and includes information about land use as a major part of the Cadastral Survey. Land use and land capability were associated, even then, in developing a sound basis on which to establish taxation policies. What is new is the fact that we, in this country, and several others have used land lavishly, and are now faced with difficult decisions that require more information than we now have readily available. The pressure on our land resources stems from a number of sources, but includes at the top of the list increased population and an economic syst.en that provides the highest profit to those who exploit our best resources first. Other new things relevant to the probIen include an awareness at many levels of goverrment of a need for a new approach to management of the land resource. Attempts at the local level to control land use through zoning have been less than effective in most areas. But there is a genuine reluctance in all parts of the country to undertake regulated zoning at the higher levels of government. This is due to the historical precedent of giving zoning powers to the local government units. Some notable exceptions are just now starting their long struggle for validation through the court systxms . Examples include the new concept of state agencies with New York State's Adirondack Agency and the Coastal Zone legislation now operative in New Jersey, some of the New England states, and along parts of the eastern seaboard. Others are the Agricultural Districts legislation of New York State, permitting land owners to create their own areas of land use control, and in some states such as Vermont statewide legislation is being used as a source of land use control. All of these examples have at least two things in crnmon. First, they seek to control and guide the development and use of the land resource. Second, they need, in fact require, a great volume of information about land use to meet their objectives. Two new fields of scieqce, apparently completely unrelated to the above situations, now provide opportunities to gain the information needed in solving our land use problems. They are