Landcover Classification for Conservation

Planning

Reason for Improved Landcover Classification:Habitat Modeling when data is not available for RSF’s

Identifying Ecological Communities

Many Problems with Existing Classifications:“One size fits all” attitude

Extent of area covered

Disconnect between botanical and remote sensing classifications

Lack of consistent standards

End result:1,000’s of project specific landcover classifications

They are usually incompatible with each other

Existing classifications are “manipulated” or less than desired

classifications are used

Montana GAP Landcover

Montana & Wyoming GAP

Wyoming Classification8028 acres

80% lodgepole pine20% subalpine meadow

Methods to Account for Differences

Crosswalk

Independent rating

Conservation Needs of a Landcover Classification

(emphasis on wildlife modeling)

Information and Scale Must Match the Needs of the SpeciesStructureAdaptable across different scales

Minimize source of errors

Compatibility

Easy to produce

Cost effective

Vegetation Resources InventoryThe B.C. Landcover Classification Scheme

Level 1 Level 2 - Lifeform Level 3 - Landscape Position

Riparian ConiferUpland ConiferAlpine Conifer

Riparian BroadleafUpland Broadleaf

Riparian Mixed TreedUpland Mixed Treed

Mature trees (pole size & greater) dense (>60% crown closure)Mature trees (pole size & greater) open (26 - 60% crown closure)Mature trees (pole size & greater) sparse )10 - 25% crown closure)

Mature trees (pole size & greater) dense (>60% crown closure)Mature trees (pole size & greater) open (26 - 60% crown closure)Mature trees (pole size & greater) sparse )10 - 25% crown closure)

Mixed Conifer / Broadleaf (< 75% of conifer or broadleaf)

Seedling and sappling sized trees, closed (>50% crown closure)Seedling and sappling sized trees, open (10 - 49% crown closure)

Mature trees (pole size & greater) dense (>60% crown closure)Mature trees (pole size & greater) open (26 - 60% crown closure)Mature trees (pole size & greater) sparse )10 - 25% crown closure)

Broadleaf (> 75% broadleaf)

Seedling and sappling sized trees, closed (>50% crown closure)Seedling and sappling sized trees, open (10 - 49% crown closure)

Level 4 - Structure Classes (for each Class in Level 3)Vegetated treed (>10% total vegetation cover, of which >15% is treed)

Conifers (> 75% conifers)

Seedling and sappling sized trees, closed (>50% crown closure)Seedling and sappling sized trees, open (10 - 49% crown closure)

Proposed Classification Scheme

Level 1 Level 2 - Lifeform Level 3 - Landscape Position

Riparian ShrubNon-riparian Mesic ShrubUpland Shrub

Agricultural Lands - IrrigatedRiparian HerbaceousNon-riparian Mesic HerbaceousUpland HerbaceousAlpine Herbacesous

Riparian MixedMixed ShrubUpland Mixed

Unvegetated Land (<10% cover)WaterUrban

Level 4 - Structure Classes (for each Class in Level 3)

Vegetated non-treed (>10% total vegetation cover, of which <15% is treed)

Dense shrub (>60% canopy cover)Open shrub (26 - 60% canopy cover)

Shrubs (>75% of the vegetated cover is shrubs)

Sparse shrub (10 - 25% canopy cover)

Dense herbaceous (>60% canopy cover)

Herbaceous (>75% of the vegetated cover is herbaceous)

Open herbaceous (26 - 60% canopy cover)Sparse herbaceous (10 - 25% canopy cover)

Dense mixed (>60% canopy cover)Open mixed (26 - 60% canopy cover)

Mixed shrub / herb (<75% of the vegetated cover is either shrub or herbaceous)

Sparse mixed (10 - 25% canopy cover)

Standing Burnt Forest (<5 years prior to satelite acquisition date)

Proposed Classification Scheme - continued

Ancillary DataElevationHydrologyLandscape position

Ancillary DataEcoregionSlopeAspect

ImageryBandsIndicesPCA

Level 1

Level 2Lifeform

Level 3Landscape position

Level 4Species

Level 4Structure

Supervised

Classificatio

n

Fuzzy

Classificatio

n

Model

UnsupervisedClassification CART

Proposed MethodsCan be used for any resolution imageryAllows nesting of different types of imagery

Ecoregions

ProvincesSectionsSub-Sections

QuickBird Scene

Orthophoto Classification