Quantitative assessment of errors in monitoring landcover changes by comparison of maps

Abstract

Many studies aimed at assessing land-cover changes are based upon the comparison of maps elaborated in different dates. This comparison allows the calculation of change rates as well as to generate more detailed data such as the transition matrix and the change map. In this study, we evaluated the errors incurred when comparing maps elaborated at different scales, obtained through independent digitalisation processes, elaborated using different classification schemes or when the maps were elaborated with inputs from different dates. Errors derived from the difference of scale or from the map-digitalisation processes led to false changes with a similar or greater scale to that of true changes. The comparison of maps based on different classification schemes invalidated the results of the comparison. By contrast, the different approaches used to tackle the issue of maps with multiple dates produced similar results. The paper discusses some methods aimed at reducing these problems and evaluating the reliability of multi-temporal databases.

Keywords

• Monitoreo de cambios de cobertura
• sistema de informacion geografica
• evaluación de confiabilidad
• base de datos multifecha