Supervised/Unsupervised Classification of LULC Using Remotely Sensed Data

Abstract

Satellite and digital imagery play an important role in remote sensing ; providing information about the land suited. Remote sensing systems offer four basic components to measure and record data about an area from a distance. These components include the energy source, the transmission path, the target and the satellite sensor. Here the LANDSAT imagery is used. Remote sensing provides important coverage, mapping and classification of landcover features such as vegetation and agriculture, soil (bare soil), water and forests. Topographic data and a digital elevation model also increase the classification accuracies. Correlations can then be drawn between topographic features in order to show the relationships that occur between forest, vegetation and soils. This provides important information for land classification and land-use management. Remote sensing is an interesting and exploratory science , as it provides images of areas in a fast and cost efficient manner , and attempts to demonstrate the “ what is happening right now” in a study area. Satellite and digital imagery acquired recently, provide more overall detail to assist the researcher in the classification process. Literature reviews and map interpretation are methods that can also be used for interpretation processes. The remote sensing methodologies can be used to access hard to reach areas for fieldwork and provides a more detailed, permanent and objective survey that offers a different perspective.
As population rises, the food demand rises as well. In a technologically limited culture, the natural first response is the expansion of cultivated area. The land under forest cover has experienced a declining trend in the past 50 years. Here, the forest land converted to Agricultural land, built-up. Due to this changes we loss our natural eco system and biodiversity also. It is found that one of the major cities of Tamil nadu is under the threat of environmental and ecological problems due to improper management of land, the free and excellent gift of nature. Hence government should come forward to take effective measures to protect the land under forest and agriculture in Coimbatore city.