Land Cover Classification Mapping & its uses for Planning

Land Cover Classification Mapping & its uses for Planning

What is Land Cover Classification Mapping? Examples of an actual product Why use Land Cover Classification Mapping for planning? Possible uses for this technology Examples of how it has been used Q & A

What is Land Cover Classification Mapping?

Land Cover Classification Mapping is derived using an automated technique called Accelerated Feature Extraction (AFE) AFE is an iterative, or self learning software program. It was originally designed for use by the U.S Department of Defense and NASA. It is a much faster and cost effective way to map features on the ground

Natural Color Red, Green & Blue Bands

Color Infrared (CIR) Imagery

Accelerated Feature Extraction

What is Accelerated Feature Extraction (AFE)? Digital Image Classification & Analysis to Detect Features Based on Pattern Recognition Urban Forestry Spectral Content Spatial Context Forest Biomass Texture

The AFE Process Collect a ground sample with known characteristics. Extrapolate the sample to an entire area. For every project, it is important to use known ground samples to check accuracy When ground samples are compared to first run data, the software is adjusted accordingly, yielding greater accuracy

Automated feature extraction yields results that accurately reflect nuance that may otherwise be missed by manual digitization while shrinking project timeframes Manual Automated

Landcover imagery

7 Class Land Cover Classification Composite RFP Mapping LLC, 2009

High Visibility Slides Each Feature is Highlighted in Yellow Copyright NCDC Imaging, RFP Mapping LLC, 2009

Bare Soil Copyright RFP Mapping LLC, 2009

This illustrates impervious sure Impervious Surface Copyright RFP Mapping LLC, 2009

Tree Canopy Copyright RFP Mapping LLC, 2009

Water Copyright RFP Mapping LLC, 2009

Healthy Grass / Irrigated Area Copyright RFP Mapping LLC, 2009

Unhealthy Grass / Non Irrigated Area Copyright RFP Mapping LLC, 2009

Grass Copyright RFP Mapping LLC, 2009

7 Class Land Cover Classification Composite Copyright RFP Mapping LLC, 2009

Why is LCCM Important for Planning? 1.It lets you know what land classes you have 2.It identifies where each class is 3.It lets you know how much of each land class you have

Cited by the APA In the best-practices manual titled Planning the Urban Forest the use of LCCM is mentioned as being a great planning tool for urban foresters.

When you have statistical data on the land resource, your planning decisions are better informed, you have a better understanding for the big picture, and can incorporate the needs of many instead of one.

Value of Land Cover Mapping Environmental habitat, water/air quality, carbon storage & sequestration Economic heating & cooling, infrastructure & design, increased property values Social greening initiatives, sense of community, lower crime rates & public health

Value of Land Cover Mapping Land LU/LC(land conversion), urban heat island, sustainable design, physical modeling Air carbon market, non attainment (ozone), quality of life, climate change modeling Water supply, conservation, watershed protection, modeling tools Modeling, Research & Policy future land use, program effectiveness, monitoring, outreach, education, economic development

Current Issues that LCCM Addresses Climate Change Green Infrastructure Planning Air Quality Stormwater Run-off

Smart Growth Issues Transportation Pedestrians & Cyclists Sprawl More Traffic Congestion No or Few Options Smart Growth More Choices Safe Places Open Space Consumes Preserves Farmland Destroys Supports Environment & Public Pollutes and Harms Protects Health Cost Pay More Cost Less Community Takes Resources Away Enhances Source: Smart Growth America

Mapping as a benchmark or baseline LCCM may be used as the benchmark for measurement when many planning projects begin. It is easily repeatable, and due to its scientific nature, results are easy to measure.

LCCM is cost effective and far less time consuming than manual methodology. It is created via accelerated feature extraction software, and offers a very high degree of accuracy. It integrates easily with existing GIS. And, inhouse data such as street center lines or parcel data increase its value!

It may be used by virtually every department in a city or municipality. Also, the GIS information may be used with GoogleEarth making it extremely easy for the public to view and offer input on specific projects.

Possible uses for Land Cover Classification Mapping It is a planning tool that helps to calculate the environmental, economic and social value of urban green space by scientifically demonstrating the impact it has on air quality, water quality, carbon sequestration, and stormwater run-off.

Possible uses for Land Cover Classification Mapping Stormwater modeling Water conservation Streets and sanitation Urban forestry Zoning Parks and recreation Transportation Land conservation and acquisition

Possible uses for Land Cover Classification Mapping Wildfire risk analysis Wildlife corridor planning Watershed management Utility vegetation management Green infrastructure planning

Local examples of Land Cover Classification Mapping Projects

Calculating Impervious Area by Parcel

Bull Valley, IL A community that is very environmentally focused Wanted to create a modeling program to promote Smart Growth

Bull Valley, IL Use land cover data to prevent an influx of un-smart development Take a proactive stance in protecting precious water resources Use land cover mapping and other software as a modeling tool to help mitigate ground water loss Protect wetlands and sustain biodiversity

Preventing Urban Sprawl

Barrington, IL Geographically, a community that is known for it s beauty, hilly, many natural bodies of water Well established residentially and commercially, many older buildings Older stormwater infrastructure system in some areas Homeowners have filled in natural drainage ditches to beautify their properties

Barrington, IL A northwest suburb of Chicago Challenged with flooding issues Wanted to create a stormwater utility Purchased 6-class landcover product to help mitigate stormwater run-off problems, create a stormwater utility, and create a benchmark for future studies

Other users: The City of Chicago, Department of the Environment. They wanted to know the best places to plant trees of varying sizes throughout the city. Milwaukee, WI. Department of Forestry, had a need to identify the location of all of the ash trees within the city limits, on a parcel basis.

Thank-you for your time! Questions and answers. Bill Peel RFP Mapping, LLC 930 Pyott Road, Crystal Lake, IL suite 100, 60014 bpeel@rfpmappingllc.com www.rfpmappingllc.com