A Comparison of Land Use and Land

Cover Change Detection Methods

Daniel L. Civco, James D. Hurd, Emily H. Wilson,
Mingjun Song, Zhenkui Zhang

Center for Land use Education And Research
Department of Natural Resources Management & Engineering
The University of Connecticut
U-4087, Room 308, 1376 Storrs Road
Storrs, CT 06269-4087

Outline
Background
Objectives
Study Area and Data
Methods
Post Classification Analysis
Cross-correlation Analysis
Neural Networks
Segmentation & Object-oriented Classification
Results
Conclusions
Recommendations
Northeast
Applications of
Useable
Technology
In
Land planning for
Urban
Sprawl
A NASA Regional
Earth Science
Applications Center
(RESAC)
To educate the general public on the value
and utility of geospatial technologies,
particularly RS information.
Our RESAC Mission
To make the power of remote sensing
technology available, accessible and
useable to local land use decision makers
as they plan their communities.
NAUTILUS Research
Better land cover mapping and change
detection
Urban growth models and metrics
Forest fragmentation models
and metrics
Improved impervious
cover estimates
Need for effective methods for deriving
information on

Land use change
Forest fragmentation
Urban growth
Loss of agricultural lands
Increase in impervious surface area
Background
Background
Farmland conversion in the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed: 1995-1999
Genesis 3D rendering of land use derived from Landsat data
Objective
Compare the results of different land
use and land cover change detection
approaches

traditional post-classification
cross-tabulation
cross-correlation analysis
neural networks
knowledge-based expert systems
image segmentation & object-
oriented classification
Research & Education Watersheds
A range of land
covers and issues
Presumpscot
SuAsCo
Salmon
Stonybrook
Stony Brook Millstone
Watershed, NJ
USGS MRLC
265 Sq. Miles
Has a strong Watershed
Association in existence
Between New York City and
Philadelphia
Increased development pressures
Loss of agriculture land to
urban sprawl
Study Area and Data
SITE 1 SITE 2
Stony Brook
Millstone Watershed
March 27, 1989 May 4, 2000
Study Area and Data
Site 1
September 3, 1989 September 23, 1999
Study Area and Data
Site 1
March 27, 1989 May 4, 2000
Study Area and Data
Site 2
September 3, 1989 September 23, 1999
Study Area and Data
Site 2
Study Area and Data
September 23, 1999 September 3, 1989
Methods
Post Classification Analysis
Cross-correlation Analysis
Neural Networks
Segmentation & Object-oriented
Classification
Post Classification Analysis
Step 1
Unsupervised
classification
Identify known
clusters
Extract unknown
clusters
1989 Classification Iteration 1
Water





















Coniferous

Deciduous

Agriculture

Turf &
Grass

Residential

Dense
Urban

Wetland

Barren

Unknown

Post Classification Analysis
Step 2
Unsupervised
classification
Identify known
clusters
Extract unknown
clusters
1989 Classification Iteration 2
Water





















Coniferous

Deciduous

Agriculture

Turf &
Grass

Residential

Dense
Urban

Wetland

Barren

Unknown

Post Classification Analysis
Step 3
Unsupervised
classification
Identify known
clusters
Extract unknown
clusters
1989 Classification Iteration 3
Water





















Coniferous

Deciduous

Agriculture

Turf &
Grass

Residential

Dense
Urban

Wetland

Barren

Unknown

Post Classification Analysis
Step 4
Unsupervised
classification
Identify clusters
1989 Classification Iteration 4
Water





















Coniferous

Deciduous

Agriculture

Turf &
Grass

Residential

Dense
Urban

Wetland

Barren

Unknown

Post Classification Analysis
Step 5
Combine
iterations into
single land cover
image
Water



















Coniferous

Deciduous

Agriculture

Turf &
Grass

Residential

Dense
Urban

Wetland

Barren

Post Classification Analysis
Step 6
Smooth image
using majority
filters
Water



















Coniferous

Deciduous

Agriculture

Turf &
Grass

Residential

Dense
Urban

Wetland

Barren

Post Classification Analysis
1989 Classification 2000 Classification
Site 1
Perform similar procedure on 2000 date
Post Classification Analysis
1989 Classification 2000 Classification
Site 2
Post Classification Analysis
Cross Tabulate
1989 Classification 2000 Classification
Change Site 2
Methods
Post Classification Analysis
Cross-correlation Analysis
Neural Networks
Segmentation & Object-oriented
Classification
Cross-correlation Analysis
2
1
. .

=
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
n
i
i
i i
Dev Std
Expected Observed
Z
CCA calculates the sum of the distance of
each pixel in each band from the norm
Z is the distance measure
Observed is the pixel value for each band
Expected is the mean value of all extracted pixels for each band
Std. Dev. Is the standard deviation of all extracted pixels for each band
Cross-correlation Analysis
Step 1
Use 1989
classification as
base land cover
Extract vegetated
class areas to be
analyzed from
1999/2000 ETM image
(turf & grass, agriculture &
barren, deciduous, and
coniferous)
September 23, 1999
1989 Deciduous Category
Cross-correlation Analysis
Step 2
Perform CCA on
1999/2000
imagery
Identify
thresholds
separating
unchanged
pixels and
changed pixels




Probable
unchanged

Probable
changed

1989 Deciduous Category
Z-values range from
1 to 5,794
Cross-correlation Analysis
Step 3
Create a mask
from changed
pixels for all
categories
analyzed
(turf & grass, agriculture
& barren, deciduous,
and coniferous)




Deciduous

Coniferous





Turf & Grass

Agriculture &
Barren

Cross-correlation Analysis
Step 4
Extract changed
pixels from
1999/2000 image
data
Perform
unspervised
classification to
identify new
categories
Water



















Coniferous

Deciduous

Agriculture

Turf &
Grass

Residential

Dense
Urban

Wetland

Barren

Cross-correlation Analysis
Step 4
Merge new
classes with
historic
classification to
produce updated
land cover
Water



















Coniferous

Deciduous

Agriculture

Turf &
Grass

Residential

Dense
Urban

Wetland

Barren

Cross-correlation Analysis
1989 Classification 2000 Classification
Site 1
Cross-correlation Analysis
1989 Classification 2000 Classification
Site 2
Methods
Post Classification Analysis
Cross-correlation Analysis
Neural Networks
Segmentation & Object-oriented
Classification
Neural Networks
Nautilus
Image
Processing
System
Neural Networks
Step 1
Select training
features based
on points
Neural Networks
Step 2
Extract digital
numbers for:
Each pixel
By class
Each Band
Neural Networks
Records 259
Features 7
Classes 9
Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 Band 4 Band 5 Band 7 Band 6 Class
69 28 22 151 103 129 30 4
65 26 21 167 107 129 31 4
. . . . . . . .
77 35 42 66 77 135 41 9
79 34 46 69 82 135 43 9
. . . . . . . .
61 20 15 83 53 124 13 5
60 20 15 83 50 124 12 5
. . . . . . . .
Example of Site 2 Training Data for September 23, 1999
Class actually represented
by one-of-n encoding. (i.e.,
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Neural Networks
Step 3: Create data set of all possible from T
1
to T
2

changes (constrained by permitted changes)
Neural Networks
FromTo

Urban

Residntl

Turf&Grass

Agric

Decid

Conif

Water

Wetland

Barren

Urban



















Residential



















Turf&Grass



















Agriculture



















Deciduous



















Coniferous



















Water



















Wetland



















Barren



















Permitted Changes
Neural Networks
Step 4
Create neural
network classifier
NeuralSIM

Backpropagation
Export C-code
Compile into
NIPS

Neural Networks
Step 5
Perform full
neural network-
based change
detection within
NIPS

Methods
Post Classification Analysis
Cross-correlation Analysis
Neural Networks
Segmentation & Object-oriented
Classification
Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 1:
Preprocessing
Prepare Image Data (2
dates and 2 seasons = 4
images)
Use indices to extract
obvious classes
Create a data layer using
the knowledge engineer
Add to image data for
input into eCognition

Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 1:
Preprocessing
Prepare Image Data (2
dates and 2 seasons = 4
images)
Use indices to extract
obvious classes
Create a data layer using
the knowledge engineer
Add to image data for
input into eCognition
Date 1
Spring
NDVI
Date 1
Summer
NDVI
Date 2
Summer
NDMI
Date 2
Spring
NDVI
Date 1
Spring
NDMI
Date 1
Summer
NDMI
Date 2
Summer
NDVI
Date 2
Spring
NDMI
Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 1:
Preprocessing
Prepare Image Data (2
dates and 2 seasons = 4
images)
Use indices to extract
obvious classes
Create a data layer using
the knowledge engineer
Add to image data for
input into eCognition

Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 1:
Preprocessing
Prepare Image Data (2
dates and 2 seasons = 4
images)
Use indices to extract
obvious classes
Create a data layer using
the knowledge engineer
Add to image data for
input into eCognition
Site 1
Site 2
Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 2
Create eCognition
Projects for date 1
and date 2
Segment images
using both seasons
of imagery
(excluding layer 7)
Input Data: 7 layers
1. Red (spring)
2. NIR (spring)
3. MIR (spring)
4. Red (summer)
5. NIR (summer)
6. MIR (summer)
7. Classified layer


Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 2
Create eCognition
Projects for date 1
and date 2
Segment images
using both seasons
of imagery
(excluding layer 7)


Segment four levels





Level Scale Color Shape
1
3 1.0 0.0
2
5 0.8 0.2
3
10 0.7 0.3
4
20 0.5 0.5
Pixel Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 2
Create eCognition
Projects for date 1
and date 2
Segment images
using both seasons
of imagery
(excluding layer 7)
Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 3
Begin creating class
hierarchy
Training segment
selection and
standard nearest
neighbor
Nearest Neighbor
Classification of
each level
Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 3
Begin creating class
hierarchy
Training segment
selection and
standard nearest
neighbor
Nearest Neighbor
Classification of
each level
Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 3
Begin creating class
hierarchy
Training segment
selection and
standard nearest
neighbor
Nearest Neighbor
Classification of
each level
Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 3
Begin creating class
hierarchy
Training segment
selection and
standard nearest
neighbor
Nearest Neighbor
Classification of
each level
Utilize the layer 7 mask
The classified
layer must be
class 3
Utilize spatial attributes
Turf and
Grass must
border
residential or
other turf
and grass
Turf and
Grass must
have
residential in
level 3
Utilize other levels
Water in
Level 1 is
based solely
on the
existence of
water in
Level 3
Water in Level 3
is based on the
summer red band
(layer 4) and the
standard nearest
neighbor samples
Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 4
Adding knowledge
to each eCognition
project
Refinement and final
classification with
class-related
features
Site 1, Date 1 Site 1, Date 2 Site 2, Date 1 Site 2, Date 2
Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 4
Adding knowledge
to each eCognition
project
Refinement and final
classification with
class-related
features
Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 5
Use the knowledge-
based classifier in
ERDAS Imagine to
do a post-
classification
change detection
Final change
classifications for
Site 1 and Site 2

Segmentation and Object-
oriented Classification
Step 5
Use the knowledge-
based classifier in
ERDAS Imagine to
do a post-
classification
change detection
Final change
classifications for
Site 1 and Site 2

Site 1 Site 2
Results
Post Classification Analysis
Cross-correlation Analysis
Neural Networks
Segmentation & Object-oriented
Classification
Post Classification Analysis
Site 1 Site 2
Urban

Agriculture

Forest

Water

Barren

Agr to
Urban

Forest to
Urban

Barren to
Urban

















Cross-correlation Analysis
Site 1 Site 2
Urban

Agriculture

Forest

Water

Barren

Agr to
Urban

Forest to
Urban

Barren to
Urban

















Neural Networks
Site 1 Site 2
Urban

Agriculture

Forest

Water

Barren

Agr to
Urban

Forest to
Urban

Barren to
Urban

















Segmentation and Object-oriented
Classification
Site 1 Site 2
Urban

Agriculture

Forest

Water

Barren

Agr to
Urban

Forest to
Urban

Barren to
Urban

















September 3, 1989 September 23, 1999
Post-classification
Change Detection
Agriculture
To
Urban
Forest
To
Urban
Barren
To
Urban
September 3, 1989 September 23, 1999
Cross-Correlation
Change Detection
Agriculture
To
Urban
Forest
To
Urban
Barren
To
Urban
September 3, 1989 September 23, 1999
Neural Network
Change Detection
Agriculture
To
Urban
Forest
To
Urban
Barren
To
Urban
September 3, 1989 September 23, 1999
Object-oriented
Change Detection
Agriculture
To
Urban
Forest
To
Urban
Barren
To
Urban
Conclusions
The results of this research reveal that there
is merit to each of the several land use
change detection methods studied, but that
there appears to be no single best way in
which to perform change analysis
The most significant conclusion of this study
is that much research remains to be done
to improve upon the results of land use and
land cover change detection
Recommendations
These investigators firmly believe that an
approach based on image-segmentation
and rule-based classification is potentially
such an improved methodology, and
accordingly intend on pursuing the avenues
of neural network and object-oriented
classification change detection, perhaps in an
integrated approach.
Acknowledgement
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Grant NAG13-99001/NRA-98-OES-08 RESAC-
NAUTILUS, Better Land Use Planning for the
Urbanizing Northeast: Creating a Network of Value-
Added Geospatial Information, Tools, and Education
for Land Use Decision Makers.
Northeast Applications of Useable Technology In Land planning for Urban Sprawl
This presentation
is available at
resac.uconn.edu
A Comparison of Land Use and Land
Cover Change Detection Methods
Daniel L. Civco, James D. Hurd, Emily H. Wilson,
Mingjun Song, Zhenkui Zhang

Center for Land use Education And Research
Department of Natural Resources Management & Engineering
The University of Connecticut
U-4087, Room 308, 1376 Storrs Road
Storrs, CT 06269-4087