Application of Landsat MSS Data in Land Use Mapping: A Malaysian Experience
Darsu Ahand
Agricultural officer, Land Use Survey Section
Department of Agriculture, Malaysia
Introduction
One of the functions of the Malaysian Department of Agriculture (DOA) is to provide land use information for various levels and lad development planning in the country. Such information not only covers agricultural land utilization, but also other non-agricultural land use activities namely urban, minings, forested areas etc.
The application of remote sensing technology in DOA upto the present stage of development has been confined to the visual interpretation of black and white panchromatic aerial photographs, expensive as compared to satellite remote sensing. Furthermore, due to the longer period of time needed for aerial photographs to be taken and the large number of photographs that have to be interpretated visually, some of the information generated might have lot their value by the time the survey has been completed.
In view of these experiences and favourable reports made elsewhere, it is felt that the digital image processing and classification of satellite data could play quite a significant role in meeting the need and the increasing demands for more upto data land use information as the country is presently experiencing rapid development. This techniques offers certain unique advantages over conventional aerial photo interpretation. Not only does it furnishes synoptic repetitive coverage but also the availability of satellite data in digital format makes them rapidly suitable for computer assisted analysis; thereby facilitating information extraction. Studies in other countries have shown that the synoptic view from satellite platforms together with modern sensors and computer technologies have much to offer to planners who need accurate and timely land use information for various land development planning and crop yield forecasting.
