Effectiveness of the Method for Detection of Land Cover or Vegetation Change using Time-serial Geographic Information with various accuracy and classification category.

Abstract

Using time-serial geographic information such as olden topographic maps and olden aerial photos, the authors try to detect land cover and vegetation change or transition on Tama Hill area, Tokyo. The authors produce land cover data on Early Meiji Period using Jinsoku-sokuzu published by the Sanbou-honbu (the Japanese Olden Army), on just after World War Two using aerial photos taken by the US Army, and on the end of Showa Period using Vegetation Maps published by the Ministry of Environment. There are big differences of positioning accuracy and classification category on each geographic information. Vegetation Maps have low positioning accuracy compared with other geographic information. Jinsoku-sokuzu has low positioning accuracy in valley area. However, it is possible to detect not only development but also reforestation or succession. The authors can estimate that this method is useful to detect land cover or vegetation change over 90% area of study area, and letter information about vegetation on Jinsoku-sokuzu has important information of excellent vegetation condition on early Meiji period.