Land use map is a map that shows the kinds and intensities of different land uses in a specific area. Finding a land use map is important to help to look for a particular type of land. Moreover, land cover helps distinguishing more details on the earth’s surface. There are different applications that a land use map can be used, which are being prepared by the government agencies for different reasons. In addition, has the ability to show how people use a specific landscape, such as conservation, development, or even mixed uses (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, n.p.).
Figure 1: The study area, Baltimore Maryland (Landsat TM 2010)
Figure 1 shows a study area that located in the Harbor of Baltimore Maryland. There are colors in the image and each one indicates a different matter. Every color is a representation of each study area, which is as follows: green color shows the green (Vage) parts of the study area, the colors yellow, red, and purple show the urban parts of the study area, while dark blue areas represent bodies of water. In this study area, the color representation makes it easier to identify the parts of the land surface for a particular use.
Figure 2: Classified Image in Baltimore Maryland (Landsat TM 2010)
The land-cover is determinable using an analyzed aerial and satellite imagery (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, n.p.). Thus, the land-cover maps and data can be used in understanding the effects of specific natural phenomena. Particular sample data is presented based on Baltimore, Maryland as the study area.
Figure 2 shows the Land-cover classification using Band 1 and 2. This image is the same on as the one in Figure 1. The difference here is because of land-cover classification. This classification method usually helps to show more details. Using Band 1 and 2, changing color makes it easy to distinguish by human eyes. Here is a table that shows all the class types and the a detailed information in terms of measurement.
Furthermore, in order to make it clearer, making the image in figure 2 clumps can help.
Figure 3: Clumped image of the classified image on Figure 2.
Clump Classes are used to clump identical classified spaces together using morphological operators. Classified images are not consistent; using a low pass filtering might be used to smooth these images. However, the class data would be corrupt by adjacent class codes. Clumping classes solves this problem. The selected classes are clumped together by first performing a dilate operation then an erode operation on the classified image using a kernel of the size specified in the parameters dialog.
In conclusion, land-cover is to indicate how much of water bodies, urban, and vegetation covering the earth’s surface. On the other hand, the land use map, based on its classification is essential for determining a specific type of land. Thus, it can help in developing a zoning map that marks out the different areas based on their specific land use. Furthermore, the land-cover is of similar classification, but has more details using Bands 1 and two to change its colors to make it easier for the human eyes to distinguish. These classifications portray advanced approaches in obtaining detailed information about the earth’s surface.
Work Cited
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "What is the Difference Between Land Cover and Land Use?" NOAA's National Ocean Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2016. <http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/lclu.html>.
