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What is Land Cover?

Author

Listed:
  • Alexis Comber
  • Peter Fisher
  • Richard Wadsworth

    (Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Monks Wood, Huntingdon PE28 2LS, England)

Abstract

Much geographic information is an interpretation of reality and it is possible for multiple interpretations to coexist. This is unproblematic for the research community but, as the numbers of users increase through initiatives resulting in data integration on an unprecedented scale, such as E-science and GRID, issues of information meaning and conceptualisation become more important. We explore these issues through the mapping of land cover and the variety of conceptions of land-cover features that may be held by actors in the creation, distribution, and use of the information. Current metadata do not report the wider meaning of the information categories in terms of the decisions that were made and by whom in specifying class conceptualisations.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexis Comber & Peter Fisher & Richard Wadsworth, 2005. "What is Land Cover?," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 32(2), pages 199-209, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:32:y:2005:i:2:p:199-209
    DOI: 10.1068/b31135
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paul Robbins, 2001. "Fixed Categories in a Portable Landscape: The Causes and Consequences of Land-Cover Categorization," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 33(1), pages 161-179, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Athanasiadis, Antonios & Andreopoulou, Zacharoula, 2019. "E-praxis: A web-based forest law decision support system for land characterization in Greece," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 157-166.

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