Land Cover Map 2000 - dataset information

Product Version - Level 2 and 3 - Vector

File format: ESRI ArcView shapefile.

Parcel information: Each parcel carries a string of Attributes, as follows:

Attributes:   Present in Level 2 Present in Level 3
SegID Unique identifier code for each segment showing OS 100km square and sequential segment number. e.g. TQ005232 (alphanumeric string). Image 1 Image 2
BHSub Dominant land cover type for each segment as a hierarchical code. (WidespreadBH.LCMSubclass) e.g. 17.2 (float). Image 3 Image 4
BHSubVar Dominant land cover type for each segment as a hierarchical code (WidespreadBH.LCMSubclass.Variant).e.g. 17.2.1 (numeric delimited string) Image 4 Image 6
PerPixList Per pixel list by percentage area, of the top five spectral subclasses within the segment e.g.Ab_a,65:Ab_b,20:Aw_c,10:Gi_b,4:Us_c,1 (alphanumeric delimited string) A code list is provided with the dataset. Image 7 Image 8
OpHistory Descriptor detailing the processing history of each segment including image date(s) and numbers of KBC rules applied. e.g.11:4:0:0:0:0 (alphanumeric delimited string) See next page for an explanation of these descriptors. Image 9 Image 10
TotPixels Total number of pixels within the segment. (Integer) Image 11 Image 12
CorePixels Total number of pixels within the core area of the segment used to perform the maximum likelihood classification. (Integer) Image 13 Image 14

OpHistory attribute

The process history descriptor (PHD) is found on each segment. The PHD is made up of five fields containing information about the input data and the various stages of classification, knowledge-based correction and final data set compilation. The sixth field covers other information.

Field 1 : 2 : 3 : 4 : 5 : 6

Example 4 : 7 : 0 : 1 : 1 : E

Field number key:

  1. Scene number. An integer number defining the area, section of the UK, within which the segment was originally classified and had phase 1 KBC applied. This number will identify the input image data (see chart following) and any scene dependent processing such as KBC and per-pixel attaching. A value of 0 will indicate a segment that has been created and / or labelled outside the standard LCM2000 production flowline, for instance, voids in the data set within lakes that are filled manually, and missing data replaced by LCMGB 1990 data.
  2. Spectral probability. An integer number derived from the probability of the top choice spectral subclass (or the sum of the probabilities within the top wBH if a probability aggregation rule has been applied [see field 3]) multiplied by 100. It gives a summary of how close the spectral information from the segment was to that of a widespread Broad Habitat, but does not indicate accuracy.
  3. Probability aggregation flag. An integer number to show whether the probability aggregation rule has been applied in phase 1 KBC. A value of 0 signifies that no probability aggregation was applied; a 1 signifies that probability rules were applied.
  4. Phase 1 KBC rules. An integer number to show the number of phase 1 (scene dependent) KBC rules applied, excluding those related only to re-coding and probability aggregation.
  5. Phase 2 KBC rules. An integer number of phase 2 (UK wide) KBC rules applied.
  6. A single character flag identifying other situations:
    • E : Eroded during data set merging into 100km squares;
    • G : Grown during data set merging into 100km squares;
    • I : Intertidal data derived from per-pixel classification;
    • H : A void filled manually;
    • K : A segment used to train the classifier;
    • L : Data from LCMGB 1990;
    • Q : A land parcel with questionable quality due to haze in original data;
    • R : Training information ‘rolled over’ from an adjoining area.

More

Area No. Sensor Summer Date Winter Date Single Date Image
  Summer Winter      
0          
1 IRS TM 16/05/98 14/02/98 s
2 TM TM 30/05/98 14/02/98  
3 IRS TM 16/05/98 14/02/98  
4 TM TM 14/05/98 14/02/98  
5 IRS TM 16/05/98 14/02/98  
6 TM TM 09/08/98 14/02/98  
7 IRS TM 16/05/98 14/02/98 s
8 TM TM 30/05/98 14/02/98  
9 TM TM 30/05/98 12/12/97  
10 IRS TM 16/05/98 12/12/97  
11 TM TM 16/05/98 01/11/97 w
12 TM TM 19/05/98 21/11/96  
13 TM TM 19/05/98 21/11/96  
14 TM TM 19/05/98 21/09/97 s
15 TM TM 19/05/98 03/02/98  
16 TM TM 19/05/98 21/09/97 s & w
17 TM TM 19/05/98 28/02/98  
18 IRS TM 01/05/98 24/07/99 w
19 IRS TM 20/05/98 03/02/98 s & w
20 TM TM 19/05/98 23/10/97 s & w
21 IRS TM 20/05/98 24/07/99 w
22 TM TM 10/09/99 15/01/97 s & w
23 TM TM 01/08/99 01/12/97 s & w
24 TM TM 01/08/99 01/03/97 w
25 TM TM 30/05/97 25/01/98  
26 IRS TM 20/05/98 21/10/97  
27 TM TM 20/05/99 01/05/98 s
28 TM IRS 30/07/99 07/05/00 s & w
29 TM TM 30/07/99 16/11/98 s & w
30 TM TM 29/07/99 12/05/00 s & w
31 TM TM 30/07/99 05/05/00 s & w
32 TM TM 13/05/00 17/09/99 s & w
33 TM TM 29/07/99 12/05/00  
34 TM IRS 01/08/99 04/05/00  
35 TM TM 12/05/01 21/09/97 s
36 TM IRS 18/05/99 10/05/00 s & w
37 TM TM 04/06/97 12/05/00 s & w
38 IRS TM 08/08/00 20/09/00 s & w

Notes:

  1. Area number. Where Area Number is recorded as 0, this refers to land parcels processed outside the normal production flowline.
  2. Sensors: TM = Landsat Thematic Mapper, IRS = Indian Remote Sensing satellite
  3. Date. X refers to a one-off classification of montane areas.
  4. Single date image? This refers to the use of single date images for part of a scene, usually a patch. E.g. s = some part of this image is derived from a single date Summer image. w = Winter image.

Subclasses and their code numbers, Level 2 dataset.

LCM2000 Suclasses
class number, LEVEL 2
Sea/Estuary
22.1
Water (inland)
13.1
Littoral rock
20.1
Littoral sediment
21.1
Saltmarsh
21.2
Supra-littoral rock
18.1
Supra-littoral sediment
19.1
Bog
12.1
Dwarf shrub heath
10.1
Open dwarf shrub heath
10.2
Montane habitats
15.1
Broad-leaved woodland
1.1
Coniferous woodland
2.1
Arable cereals
4.1
Arable horticulture
4.2
Non-rotational horticulture
4.3
Improved grassland
5.1
Setaside grass
5.2
Neutral grass
6.1
Calcareous grass
7.1
Acid grass
8.1
Bracken
9.1
Fen, marsh, swamp
11.1
Suburban/rural developed
17.1
Continuous Urban
17.2
Inland bare ground
16.1

Total - 26 Target/subclasses

Broad Habitats (BHs) and their distinction in LCM2000.

1. Broad-leaved, mixed and yew woodland Broad-leaved, in stands > 5 m high with tree-cover > 20%; or scrub < 5 m and yew woodland with cover >30%. Mixed woodland is included if broadleaved trees in conifers cover > 20%. Stands ≥ 0.5 ha are mapped as separate blocks.
2. Coniferous woodland Coniferous woodland, semi-natural and plantations, with cover > 20%, and recently felled forestry. Once felled areas are colonised by rough grass, heath or scrub, they take that class.
3. Boundaries and linear features Larger linear features such as shelter belts or motorways; smaller linear features (hedges, walls, smaller roads) are only recorded by the field survey.
4. Arable and horticulture Annual crops, recent leys, freshly ploughed land, rotational setaside, and perennial horticulture crops such as berries and orchards. Once setaside is substantially vegetated with weeds or rough grass, it is included in the Improved grassland Habitat.
5. Improved grassland Improved grasslands in swards dominated by agriculturally ‘preferred’ species, generally ‘improved’ by reseeding and/or fertilizer treatment. May be used for agriculture or amenity. Fertile pastures with Juncus effusus are included. Setaside grass is included but, where possible, distinguished at the subclass level; abandoned or little-managed Improved grasslands may be confused with seminatural swards.
6. Neutral grassland
7. Calcareous grassland
8. Acid grassland		 Acid, neutral and calcareous semi-natural swards are generally not reseeded or fertilizer treated; they are dominated by lower productivity grasses, perhaps with many herbs. Grassland management may obscure distinctions from Improved grassland. Neutral, calcareous and acid components are distinguished at subclass level using a soil ‘acid sensitivity’ map. Pastures with Juncus effusus and with seminatural spectral-characteristics are included with acid swards.
9. Bracken The bracken Habitat is, at the height of the growing season, dominated by Pteridium aquilinum. Where images pre-date the late growing season, or where stands are dissected, bracken may be missed.
10. Dwarf shrub heath Ericaceous species and gorse forming > 25% of plant cover; open and dense heaths are divided at subclass level. The Habitat includes wet and dry categories but ericaceous vegetation on peat ≥ 0.5 m deep is recorded as ‘bog’. In contrast, LCMGB 1990 used a definition based on presence of seasonal standing water.
11. Fen, marsh and swamp Vegetation which is permanently, seasonally or periodically waterlogged. Swamps, fens and flushes are seldom extensive enough to map from satellite images. Rush pastures are more extensive. The category does not include fertile pastures with Juncus effusus.
12. Bog Bogs include ericaceous, herbaceous and mossy vegetation in areas with peat >0.5 m deep; ericaceous bogs are distinguished at subclass level. Inclusion of Ericaceous bogs contrasts with LCMGB 1990 where bogs were herbaceous or mossy in seasonal standing water.
13. Standing open water and canals
14. Rivers, streams		 Water bodies ≥ 0.5 ha are mapped, but only the wider canals and rivers (>50 m) are shown. LCM2000 does not distinguish standing from flowing water.
15. Montane Habitats Prostrate dwarf heath, sedge and rush, moss heaths and snow bed communities. Limited access during field reconnaissance may limit the accuracy of distinctions.
16. Inland rock Natural and man-made bare ground, including waste tips and quarries
17. Built-up areas and gardens Urban land, rural development, roads, railways, waste and derelict ground, including vegetated wasteland, gardens and urban trees. In LCM200, all larger areas of vegetation (≥ 0.5 ha) are identified as the appropriate cover class. Continuous urban and discontinuous suburban cover are distinguished at subclass level.
18. Supra-littoral rock
19. Supra-littoral sediment		 Supra-littoral Habitats, created by coastal processes of erosion and/or accretion, lie above mean high water spring tides; distinction used a maritime mask. Separation of sediment rock and sediment was at subclass level, through spectral and interactive processing
20. Littoral rock
21. Littoral sediment		 Littoral Habitats lie below mean high water spring tides in a zone defined by a maritime mask. Rocks and sediments were separated at subclass level by semiinteractive processing. Littoral rocks are generally limited in extent; sediments may be extensive. Saltmarsh is included with Littoral sediments, but as a separate subclass.
22. Inshore sublittoral sediment. Areas of sea and estuary are assumed to be inshore and with sublittoral sediment. Thus 23. Inshore sublittoral rock, 24. Offshore shelf sediment, 25. Offshore shelf rock, 26. Continental shelf slope, and 27. Oceanic seas are not distinguished in LCM2000.
   

Further information

See the Land Cover Map home page here. Enquiries: email datalicensing@ceh.ac.uk or phone 01491 692549. Alternatively please use the Quote Request form.

For further information on the methodology developed and used to create Land Cover Map 2000 see:

Fuller, R.M., Smith, G.M., Sanderson, J.M. & Thomson, A.G (in press). The UK Land Cover Map 2000: construction of a parcel-based vector map from satelite images. Cartographic J.

Smith, G.M., Fuller, R.M., Sanderson, J.M., Hill, R.A. & Thomson, A.G., 2001. Land Cover Map 2000: a parcel-based map from satelite images. Proceedings of the 1st Annual Remote Sensing and Photgrammetry Society Conference, Remote Sensing Society, Nottingham. CD ROM.

For a detailed description of the Broad Habitat Classification see:

Jackson, D.L. 2000. JNCC Report No. 307. Guidance on the interpretation of the Biodiversity Broad Habitat Classification (terrestrial and freshwater types): definitions and the relationships with other habitat classifications. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.

Top of Page