LandBase

LandBase™ is a new vector mapping product from Infoterra that depicts core land cover to a level of detail and extent previously not seen. Key features of the landscape such as buildings, shrubs, trees and artificial surface are captured based on a 50 m² minimum mapping unit (MMU) to give a land cover map suitable for viewing at 1:5000 scale. Such detailed mapping can be used to accurately quantify the landscape and act as a baseline for change detection.

Ten high resolution ‘core’ Level 2 classes are given context with three Level 1 classes describing the broad environment in which they fall.

The above image shows LandBase level 2 classification over Ladybower Reservoir in the Upper Derwent Valley in Derbyshire. The classification has been draped over the GeoPerspectives 2m DSM.

The real power of LandBase lies in its ability for customisation. In order to facilitate this intra-class, boundaries are drawn that represent real features present in the imagery and are appropriate in scale for the type of feature identified. If for example a continuous area of semi-natural grassland and bracken is mapped, both would have a level 2 classification of herbaceous vegetation. However if distinct in the imagery, the bracken would be defined as separate objects which could then classified accordingly. In the same way woodland may be subdivided almost down to tree level.

In order to aid customisation each object is packed with useful attributes such as height information and local land cover statistics. In this way it would be possible to differentiate an urban tower block from a rural house. More complex queries may be built to help identify specific features based on both special and thematic context. Essentially LandBase is not limited by its inbuilt two classification levels, think of it as a toolbox ready to build your own custom classifications.

Contact us for further information about Landbase and how we can meet your objectives.