Publications

Yu, Le; Liang, Lu; Wang, Jie; Zhao, Yuanyuan; Cheng, Qu; Hu, Luanyun; Liu, Shuang; Yu, Liang; Wang, Xiaoyi; Zhu, Peng; Li, Xueyan; Xu, Yue; Li, Congcong; Fu, Wei; Li, Xuecao; Li, Wenyu; Liu, Caixia; Cong, Na; Zhang, Han; Sun, Fangdi; Bi, Xinfang; Xin, Qinchuan; Li, Dandan; Yan, Donghui; Zhu, Zhiliang; Goodchild, Michael F.; Gong, Peng (2014). Meta-discoveries from a synthesis of satellite-based land-cover mapping research. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING, 35(13), 4573-4588.

Abstract
Since the launch of the first land-observation satellite (Landsat-1) in 1972, land-cover mapping has accumulated a wide range of knowledge in the peer-reviewed literature. However, this knowledge has never been comprehensively analysed for new discoveries. Here, we developed the first spatialized database of scientific literature in English about land-cover mapping. Using this database, we tried to identify the spatial temporal patterns and spatial hotspots of land-cover mapping research around the world. Among other findings, we observed (1) a significant mismatch between hotspot areas of land-cover mapping and areas that are either hard to map or rich in biodiversity; (2) mapping frequency is positively related to economic conditions; (3) there is no obvious temporal trend showing improvement in mapping accuracy; (4) images with more spectral bands or a combination of data types resulted in increased mapping accuracies; (5) accuracy differences due to algorithm differences are not as large as those due to various types of data used; and (6) the complexity of a classification system decreases its mapping accuracy. We recommend that one way to improve our understanding of the challenges, advances, and applications of previous land-cover mapping is for journals to require area-based information at the time of manuscript submission. In addition, building a standard protocol for systematic assessment of land-cover mapping efforts at the global scale through international collaboration is badly needed.

DOI:
10.1080/01431161.2014.930206

ISSN:
0143-1161; 1366-5901