Use of unsupervised classification for the determination of prevailing land use topology

Abstract

This paper presents classification methods that enable the division of space into homogeneous areas that combine the spatial characteristics with influence on land use and changes thereof. It was determined that the existing methods do not always include the criteria needed for the aggregation of spatial units into homogeneous groups. The results of the analysis showed that the identified homogenous groups do not fully capture the spatial complexity and diversity important for land use change analyses. For this reason, a new approach to the classification of spatial units based on the unsupervised classification of digital images was proposed. The methodology includes the selection of appropriate indicators, that consider land use more comprehensively and thus enable better classification results. The use of the unsupervised classification method for prevailing land use typology has been tested in Slovenia. At the municipal level, seven types of prevailing land use were identified.

Keywords

• unsupervised classification
• spatial unit
• prevailing land use
• typology
• Slovenia