Landscape modelling using integrated airborne multi-spectral and laser scanning data

By integrating multi-spectral and elevation data from airborne sensors (CASI and ALTM) and adopting a parcel-based approach, a progression is achieved from land-cover classification to landscape modelling. This work involved data integration, per-parcel classification, knowledge-based correction and the derivation of landscape objects. For a 1 km 2 study area, a 14 land-cover class vector dataset was generated in which the parcels relate to landscape objects and contain information on their structure and 'terrain' context. At a 1 m spatial resolution, the correspondence between land-cover mapped using the airborne sensor data and identified by Countryside Survey 2000 field surveyors was 88%.