The UK Land Cover Map 2000: Construction of a Parcel-Based Vector Map from Satellite Images

Abstract

Land Cover Map 2000 (LCM2000) is a thematic classification of satellite image data covering the entire United Kingdom. The map updates and substantially upgrades the Land Cover Map of Great Britain (LCMGB), made in 1990–92. This paper outlines the character of the map through a description of its specification, production and outputs. The paper is aimed at users of LCM2000 and derived data who need to understand more of the map and its characteristics. The paper also outlines plans for making data available to researchers and applied users.The most important development in LCM2000 was the spectral segmentation of images to generate vector land parcels. Land cover was then identified by the spectral classification of the image data in these parcels. Classification used specially developed procedures which exploited known spatial, spectral and contextual characteristics of land cover. The resultant GIS incorporates, within its vector structure, detailed attribute data which record parcel-based land cover, plus information on class probabilities, data on within-parcel heterogeneity, information on landscape structure and context, cover information from LCMGB, together with a record of each parcel's processing history.