LCCS : flexibility and standardization in land cover classification

The “thematic representation” of the reality in terms of an adoption of a classification system is the first important step in the process of thematic data generation. The choice of the classification system must be driven by two main needs:

• The maximum flexibility (in the sense that the system must be able to describe the maximum number of thematic classes at any scale to cope with the real world)
• The highest level of standardization possible (the classes should adhere to strict class boundary definitions that should be unambiguous, clear and as neutral as possible in the description) to be really synergic with the further use in a GIS context

Despite the large number of land cover classification systems in existence, none has been internationally recognized and selected as a standard because their lack in fulfilling those requirements.

Therefore, a new Land Cover classification system was created. At the moment it can be considered as one of the most significant attempts for the establishment of a standardized, systematic, multipurpose, land cover classification.

LCCS is the only universally applicable system in operational use at present. It enables a comparison of land cover classes regardless of data source, economic sector or country. Most other land cover classification systems are single-purpose systems, tailored to requirements of a specific project or based on a sectorial approach.

Land cover classes produced by such systems are generally not comparable. Yet, the increasing number of regional and global projects urgently needs a universally applicable land cover classification system for objective international comparisons of land cover current state and changes.

LCCS Design Principles

LCCS (Land Cover Classification System) is an a priori classification. Therefore all the classes must be defined before any data collection and their classification take place.

Main advantage of a priori classification systems is that they allow standardization of classes, are independent of geographic area and data collection methodology.

Their disadvantage is inherent rigidity since all the classes have to be selected in advance. An enormous amount of pre-defined classes would be needed for consistent description of land cover occurring anywhere in the world.

The LCCS method enhances the standardization process and minimizes the problem of dealing with a very large amount of pre-defined classes.

The new innovative approach means that instead of pre-defining the classes, it pre-defines the classification criteria that uniquely identify the classes. The concept is based on the presumption that any land cover class, regardless of its type and geographic location, can be defined by a set of pre-selected independent diagnostic attributes, the classifiers.

The number of classifiers used determines the detail with which the land cover is classified. Thus, a larger number of classifiers is needed when more detailed classification (description) of land cover is required.

The heterogeneity of land cover does not allow that the same set of classifiers can be used to define all land cover types. Therefore, these classifiers are tailored to eight major land-cover groups (third level of dichotomous phase). This has greatly reduced the number of classifiers needed for the precise definition of any land cover class, and thus significantly simplified the classification procedure.

However, it required designing the LCCS implementation in two phases:

- initial Dichotomous Classification Phase

- follow-up Modular-Hierarchical Phase

- LCCS Dichotomous Classification Phase

- LCCS Modular-Hierarchical Phase

- GeoVIS
- AIMs
- ADG
- AID