The Africover Software Family

Africover has designed a set of tools for land cover mapping aimed at providing the user community with easy to use and powerful integrated free software.

The Africover softwares are divided in a set of tools for land cover data base development:

- LCCS
- AIMs
- GeoVIS

and a set of tools for data base use:

- ADG
- AID

The land cover data base development softwares have been developed by the Eastern Africa module of the Africover Projectsa and are available for distribution. The data base use tools are under development.

LCCS

LCCS is the software that puts in your hands the power and flexibility of the FAO - UNEP Land Cover Classification. It is a user friendly tool with which you can create you own land cover legend compliant to the FAO - UNEP international standard, use them for land cover mapping directly in AIMs or GeoVIS or export them in several widespread formats (Excel, HTML, Access).

LCCS is a freeware and has been developed from the Eastern Africa module of the Africoever Project. You can download your free copy from the LCCS web site, where you will also find in depth information, manuals and self training material.

GeoVIS

GeoVis is a vector-based editing system specifically designed for thematic interpretation. It facilitates and speeds up all mapping activities based on remote sensing data. It is a user-friendly system that embeds the main tools of vector drawing and editing, including topological functions, with advanced capabilities of raster management and a direct link with LCCS (Land Cover Classification System).

The GeoVis software has been developed by Italian software house Terranova. The live-link with LCCS makes it possible to immediately assign a specific land cover class to a polygon. The resulting classified vector map is a final product and can be exported to e.g. ArcView to perform further GIS based manipulation or modelling.

GeoVIS is a freeware for FAO partners; you can download a free copy of the software The software has been developed from the Eastern Africa module of the Africover Project.

Visit the section dedicated to GeoVIS to learn more about the software.

GeoVIS is property of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and as such is available only for UN Agencies, Organizations and National institutions dealing with FAO. Users not belonging to and not dealing with such organizations are not allowed to use GeoVis.

If you are an FAO partner you can use GeoVIS as freeware. You can download your free copy of the software and request FAO Africover for a software key. Thus, you shall be required to provide us with the registration number that appears after installing the software; we will then provide you with the relevant software key.

AIMs

AIMS is an integrated image processing-interpretation-mapping tool. AIMS handles all steps from image enhancement, image interpretation to final map output.

It facilitates and speeds up all mapping activities based on remote sensing data. The live link to the FAO developed Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) makes it the excellent tool for land cover mapping. As such, AIMS also introduces international standards and norms, specifically for complete land cover mapping exercises.

The AIMS kernel is an image processing software developed by Matra (FR) and completed for FAO with tools and routines optimising on-screen satellite image interpretation and direct digitising and classification of this interpretation.

AIMS has a link incorporated to the FAO LCCS which makes it possible to immediately assign a specific land cover class to a polygon. The resulting classified vector map is a final product and can be printed or exported to e.g. ArcView and ArcInfo to perform further GIS based manipulation or modelling.

Visit the LCCS web site

The LCCS web site gives full insight on the methodology and the software.

You can download yur free copy of LCCS to develop map legends and export in user frendly formats.

Inside GeoVIS

Learn more about GeoVIS and download the manual and your free copy of the software.