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Track: Natural Resources and Conservation
Tracy Emery
University of Missouri
16 Stewart Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
Telephone: 573-882-1404
Fax: 573-884-4239
Tim Haithcoat, Ron Drobney
Creating and Evaluating a Framework for Land Cover Generalization in Missouri
Most existing methodologies for generalization have data display as the primary objective. For GAP analysis, the objective was the creation of a scalable land cover layer suitable for species/habitat modeling. This objective required the development of a new methodology for land cover generalization. The first step toward this methodology was the creation of a land cover classification system. Next, a matrix that defines the relationship between every possible pairing of land cover types was created. These relationships were based on the morphology, physiology, and function of the plant communities as well as their linkages to known habitat descriptions. Finally, a process was developed that would retain, maintain, and track the matrix composition of individual polygons as the generalization process proceeded. The outcome of this was a generalized land cover database that retained the "mix" or detail of the initial data. This study was conducted over a pilot four-county area in mid-Missouri that was
representative of State-wide land cover. Six-band TM imagery, aerial photography, and ground truthing were the primary data sources for the land cover mapping.
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