Global Land Cover Data Bases and their Perspectives for Present-Day Landscapes Mapping

Abstract

Land cover databases obtained as a result of processing space images from different imaging systems are used around the world for mapping landscapes/ecosystems at global and regional scales. For these purposes, the following databases are analyzed: the University of Maryland’s UMD Land Cover Classification for 1981-1994, DISCover land cover for 1992-1993, Global Land Cover 2000, GlobCover for 2009, and MODIS Land Cover for 2001-2012. On the basis of per pixel and per class analysis of UMD Land Cover Classification and Global Land Cover 2000 it was concluded that to obtain reliable results on the status of the land cover is possible only for certain categories. MODIS Land Cover data for 2001-2012, which may be combined with AVHRR data available for 1982-2006, are better suited for mapping land use changes of contemporary landscapes. The constraints and opportunities for using these databases, including the creation of a dynamic classification of contemporary landscapes on the basis of the typology of land use changes for 1980-2010 are considered. It is shown that the data on land cover reflect the prevailing geoecological functions of geosystems: environment regulatory (ecosystem), productive, industrial and residential, which can be the basis for a new classification system for modern landscapes.