Updating land cover maps with satellite images

Abstract

An alternative approach is proposed for periodical land cover mapping. Aerial photography is used for land cover mapping in reference years and satellite images are used to update the land cover maps for the years in between. The annual maps have the thematic and geometric accuracy of the reference maps for the areas that did not experienced any change since the previous reference year. For the areas that changed, the accuracy depends on the satellite images used for the updating.