Description

Land cover classification is an important first step to assessing land cover and land use. This advanced webinar hosted by NASA's Applied Remote Sensing Training Program (ARSET) provides lectures and hands-on activities focused on using satellite imagery for land cover classification. Participants can learn how to acquire Landsat imagery, display it in an open-source geographic information system (GIS), analyze spectral signatures of land cover types, and conduct a supervised land cover classification.

Prerequisites

• Fundamentals of Remote Sensing
• Download and install QGIS and all accompanying software
  • Use this Downloading and Installing QGIS Exercise (PDF, 972 KB)
    • Para descargar e instalar QGIS (PDF, 963 KB)
  • This advanced training will use QGIS software, and although previous experience with this software is not required, some experience with geospatial software will be helpful. We strongly recommend you open QGIS and ensure the software is working prior to starting the webinar.
• Complete the Introduction to QGIS and Raster Imagery Exercise (PDF, 8.3 MB)
  • Introducción a QGIS y a Imágenes Ráster (PDF, 8.3 MB)
• Download the Prerequisite Data (zip, 281 KB)
  • If you have difficulty accessing the necessary Landsat data through GloVis, try using EarthExplorer (PDF, 72 KB)
  • This includes installation of the QGIS Plugin Semi-Automatic Classification Plugin
• Complete the Prerequisite Homework (Tarea de prerrequisito) 

Objectives

By the end of this training, attendees will be able to:

• Understand how to access and download Landsat imagery
• Become familiar with Landsat bands and color combinations
• Learn the basic steps for conducting a supervised land cover classification by:
  • Creating training sites
  • Analyzing differences in spectral signatures
• Understand the differences between an unsupervised classification and a supervised classification

Target Audience

This training is intended for local, regional, state, federal, and international organizations interested in assessing vegetation condition using satellite imagery.

Course Format

• Two 2-hour parts

Sessions

Part 1: Introduction to Land Cover Classification and QGIS

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017

An overview of land cover classification, including unsupervised and supervised classification. 

Materials

• Part 1 Presentation Slides (PDF, 4.0 MB)
• Part 1 Exercise: Creating a Supervised Land Cover Classification (PDF, 8.6 MB)

Materiales en Español

• Diapositivas de la Presentación de Parte 1 (PDF, 4.0 MB)
• Ejercicio de Parte 1: Creación de una clasificación supervisada de la cobertura del suelo (PDF, 1.6 MB)

Part 2: Improving a Supervised Land Cover Classification

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017

Analyzing training sites to improve the supervised land cover classification. 

Materials

• Part 2 Presentation Slides (PDF, 11.4 MB)
• Part 2 Exercise: Analyzing Training Sites to Improve Supervised Classifications (PDF, 7.8 MB)

Homework

• Part 2 Homework

Materiales en Español

• Diapositivas de la Presentación de Parte 2 (PDF, 11.5 MB)
• Ejercicio de Parte 2: Análisis de sitios de entrenamiento para mejorar las clasificaciones supervisadas (PDF, 7.9 MB)

Tarea

• Tarea de Parte 2