Frontiers in Environmental Science (Nov 2019)
Land Cover Mapping in Data Scarce Environments: Challenges and Opportunities
- David Saah,
- David Saah,
- David Saah,
- Karis Tenneson,
- Mir Matin,
- Kabir Uddin,
- Peter Cutter,
- Peter Cutter,
- Ate Poortinga,
- Ate Poortinga,
- Quyen H. Nguyen,
- Quyen H. Nguyen,
- Matthew Patterson,
- Gary Johnson,
- Kel Markert,
- Kel Markert,
- Africa Flores,
- Africa Flores,
- Eric Anderson,
- Eric Anderson,
- Amanda Weigel,
- Amanda Weigel,
- Walter L. Ellenberg,
- Walter L. Ellenberg,
- Radhika Bhargava,
- Aekkapol Aekakkararungroj,
- Aekkapol Aekakkararungroj,
- Biplov Bhandari,
- Biplov Bhandari,
- Nishanta Khanal,
- Ian W. Housman,
- Peter Potapov,
- Alexandra Tyukavina,
- Paul Maus,
- David Ganz,
- Nicholas Clinton,
- Farrukh Chishtie,
- Farrukh Chishtie,
- Farrukh Chishtie
Affiliations
- David Saah
- Geospatial Analysis Lab, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- David Saah
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, CA, United States
- David Saah
- SERVIR-Mekong, Bangkok, Thailand
- Karis Tenneson
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, CA, United States
- Mir Matin
- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Kabir Uddin
- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Peter Cutter
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, CA, United States
- Peter Cutter
- SERVIR-Mekong, Bangkok, Thailand
- Ate Poortinga
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, CA, United States
- Ate Poortinga
- SERVIR-Mekong, Bangkok, Thailand
- Quyen H. Nguyen
- SERVIR-Mekong, Bangkok, Thailand
- Quyen H. Nguyen
- Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, Bangkok, Thailand
- Matthew Patterson
- RedCastle Resources, Inc. Contractor to: USDA Forest Service Geospatial Technology and Applications Center (GTAC), Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Gary Johnson
- Geospatial Analysis Lab, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Kel Markert
- Earth System Science Center, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, United States
- Kel Markert
- SERVIR Science Coordination Office, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, United States
- Africa Flores
- Earth System Science Center, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, United States
- Africa Flores
- SERVIR Science Coordination Office, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, United States
- Eric Anderson
- Earth System Science Center, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, United States
- Eric Anderson
- SERVIR Science Coordination Office, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, United States
- Amanda Weigel
- Earth System Science Center, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, United States
- Amanda Weigel
- SERVIR Science Coordination Office, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, United States
- Walter L. Ellenberg
- Earth System Science Center, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, United States
- Walter L. Ellenberg
- SERVIR Science Coordination Office, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, United States
- Radhika Bhargava
- Google Inc., Mountain View, CA, United States
- Aekkapol Aekakkararungroj
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, CA, United States
- Aekkapol Aekakkararungroj
- Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, Bangkok, Thailand
- Biplov Bhandari
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, CA, United States
- Biplov Bhandari
- Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, Bangkok, Thailand
- Nishanta Khanal
- SERVIR-Mekong, Bangkok, Thailand
- Ian W. Housman
- RedCastle Resources, Inc. Contractor to: USDA Forest Service Geospatial Technology and Applications Center (GTAC), Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Peter Potapov
- 0Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
- Alexandra Tyukavina
- 0Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
- Paul Maus
- RedCastle Resources, Inc. Contractor to: USDA Forest Service Geospatial Technology and Applications Center (GTAC), Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- David Ganz
- 1RECOFTC—The Center for People and Forests, Bangkok, Thailand
- Nicholas Clinton
- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Farrukh Chishtie
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, CA, United States
- Farrukh Chishtie
- SERVIR-Mekong, Bangkok, Thailand
- Farrukh Chishtie
- Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, Bangkok, Thailand
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2019.00150
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 7
Abstract
Land cover maps are a critical component to make informed policy, development, planning, and resource management decisions. However, technical, capacity, and institutional challenges inhibit the creation of consistent and relevant land cover maps for use in developing regions. Many developing regions lack coordinated capacity, infrastructure, and technologies to produce a robust land cover monitoring system that meets land management needs. Local capacity may be replaced by external consultants or methods which lack long-term sustainability. In this study, we characterize and respond to the key land cover mapping gaps and challenges encountered in the Lower Mekong (LMR) and Hindu Kush-Himalaya (HKH) region through a needs assessment exercise and a collaborative system design. Needs were assessed using multiple approaches, including focus groups, user engagement workshops, and online surveys. Efforts to understand existing limitations and stakeholder needs resulted in a co-developed and modular land cover monitoring system which utilizes state-of-the-art cloud computing and machine learning which leverages freely available Earth observations. This approach meets the needs of diverse actors and is a model for transnational cooperation.
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