Automatic Multi-Temporal Land Cover Mapping with Medium Spatial Resolution Using the Model Migration Method

Accurate land cover mapping plays a critical role in enhancing our understanding of Earth’s energy balance, carbon cycle, and ecosystem dynamics. However, existing methods for producing multi-epoch land cover products still heavily depend on manual intervention, limiting their efficiency and scalabi...

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Main Authors: Ruijun Chen, Xidong Chen, Yu Ren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/1/37
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author Ruijun Chen
Xidong Chen
Yu Ren
author_facet Ruijun Chen
Xidong Chen
Yu Ren
author_sort Ruijun Chen
collection DOAJ
description Accurate land cover mapping plays a critical role in enhancing our understanding of Earth’s energy balance, carbon cycle, and ecosystem dynamics. However, existing methods for producing multi-epoch land cover products still heavily depend on manual intervention, limiting their efficiency and scalability. This study introduces an automated approach for multi-epoch land cover mapping using remote sensing imagery and the model migration strategy. Landsat ETM+ and OLI images with a 30 m resolution were utilized as the primary data sources. An automatic training sample extraction method based on prior multi-source land cover products was first utilized. Then, based on the generated training dataset and a random forest classifier, local adaptive land cover classification models of the reference year were developed. Finally, by migrating the classification model to the target epoch, multi-epoch land cover products were generated. Yuli County in Xinjiang and Linxi County in Inner Mongolia were used as test cases. The classification models were first generated in 2020 and then migrated to 2010 to test the effectiveness of automated land cover classification over multiple years. Our mapping results show high accuracy in both regions, with Yuli County achieving 92.52% in 2020 and 88.33% in 2010, and Linxi County achieving 90.28% in 2020 and 85.28% in 2010. These results demonstrate the reliability of our proposed automated land cover mapping strategy. Additionally, the uncertainty analysis of the model migration strategy indicated that land cover types such as water bodies, wetlands, and impervious surfaces, which exhibit significant spectral changes over time, were the least suitable for model migration. Our results can offer valuable insights for medium-resolution, multi-epoch land cover mapping, which could facilitate more efficient and accurate environmental assessments.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2072-4292
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spelling doaj-art-822041baf72f4828843e538244180afa2025-01-10T13:20:01ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922024-12-011713710.3390/rs17010037Automatic Multi-Temporal Land Cover Mapping with Medium Spatial Resolution Using the Model Migration MethodRuijun Chen0Xidong Chen1Yu Ren2Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999007, ChinaFuture Urbanity & Sustainable Environment (FUSE) Lab, Division of Landscape Architecture, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999007, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaAccurate land cover mapping plays a critical role in enhancing our understanding of Earth’s energy balance, carbon cycle, and ecosystem dynamics. However, existing methods for producing multi-epoch land cover products still heavily depend on manual intervention, limiting their efficiency and scalability. This study introduces an automated approach for multi-epoch land cover mapping using remote sensing imagery and the model migration strategy. Landsat ETM+ and OLI images with a 30 m resolution were utilized as the primary data sources. An automatic training sample extraction method based on prior multi-source land cover products was first utilized. Then, based on the generated training dataset and a random forest classifier, local adaptive land cover classification models of the reference year were developed. Finally, by migrating the classification model to the target epoch, multi-epoch land cover products were generated. Yuli County in Xinjiang and Linxi County in Inner Mongolia were used as test cases. The classification models were first generated in 2020 and then migrated to 2010 to test the effectiveness of automated land cover classification over multiple years. Our mapping results show high accuracy in both regions, with Yuli County achieving 92.52% in 2020 and 88.33% in 2010, and Linxi County achieving 90.28% in 2020 and 85.28% in 2010. These results demonstrate the reliability of our proposed automated land cover mapping strategy. Additionally, the uncertainty analysis of the model migration strategy indicated that land cover types such as water bodies, wetlands, and impervious surfaces, which exhibit significant spectral changes over time, were the least suitable for model migration. Our results can offer valuable insights for medium-resolution, multi-epoch land cover mapping, which could facilitate more efficient and accurate environmental assessments.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/1/37time seriesland coverremote sensing classificationclassification model migrationLandsat
spellingShingle Ruijun Chen
Xidong Chen
Yu Ren
Automatic Multi-Temporal Land Cover Mapping with Medium Spatial Resolution Using the Model Migration Method
Remote Sensing
time series
land cover
remote sensing classification
classification model migration
Landsat
title Automatic Multi-Temporal Land Cover Mapping with Medium Spatial Resolution Using the Model Migration Method
title_full Automatic Multi-Temporal Land Cover Mapping with Medium Spatial Resolution Using the Model Migration Method
title_fullStr Automatic Multi-Temporal Land Cover Mapping with Medium Spatial Resolution Using the Model Migration Method
title_full_unstemmed Automatic Multi-Temporal Land Cover Mapping with Medium Spatial Resolution Using the Model Migration Method
title_short Automatic Multi-Temporal Land Cover Mapping with Medium Spatial Resolution Using the Model Migration Method
title_sort automatic multi temporal land cover mapping with medium spatial resolution using the model migration method
topic time series
land cover
remote sensing classification
classification model migration
Landsat
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/1/37
work_keys_str_mv AT ruijunchen automaticmultitemporallandcovermappingwithmediumspatialresolutionusingthemodelmigrationmethod
AT xidongchen automaticmultitemporallandcovermappingwithmediumspatialresolutionusingthemodelmigrationmethod
AT yuren automaticmultitemporallandcovermappingwithmediumspatialresolutionusingthemodelmigrationmethod