Vegetation mapping using satellite and topographic map data in a stratified approach: Method development and application

This paper presents a method for vegetation mapping based on Landsat TM and topographic map data using a stratified approach. 28 vegetation and landuse classes were tested and evaluated in an area in southern Sweden, including 13 forest classes, 9 mire classes, 2 meadow classes, arable land, built-up areas, harvested peat bog and sand/stone pit. Parallel with the method development, cooperation was established with the Swedish Land Survey in Luleå with the aim of transfering the knowledge of the technique to their vegetation mapping group. This resulted in the production of a vegetation map based on satellite technique parallel with their ordinary airphoto-based production, giving an unique possibility to compare the results of the two techniques. A cost-benefit analysis was performed as well. The paper describes the main steps in the proposed method and presents the results of the applied mapping.