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Abstract
Updated National
Land-Cover Database of South Africa
Bongani Majeke
-
CSIR,
South Africa
Email: bmajeke@csir.co.za
Humbulani Mudau
CSIR
Luvuyo Poti
CSIR
Abel Ramoelo
CSIR
Mark Thompson
CSIR
Gavin Flemming, Graeme McFerren, and Jan van
Aardt
CSIR
The National Land-Cover (NLC) 2000 project was implemented in 2002 to update and improve the existing
South African land-cover database after the successful completion of the 1994/1995 mapping. The
1994/1995 effort provided for the first time, a standardised, baseline data on land-cover/use for the
whole of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland with enhanced spatial detail and information content. The
updated land-cover product is suitable for 1:50,000 scale GIS-based mapping and modelling applications
based on mapping the dominant land-cover within (approximately) a 1 ha unit. The land-cover database is
derived from seasonal (two seasons satellite imagery), ortho-rectified, standardised, high resolution
digital satellite imagery from Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+), which were acquired
principally during 2000 – 2002 and in conjunction with ancillary data. The land-cover information
produced in 1994/1995 provided a unique window on national resource status at that point in time for
strategic national planning and management. Implementation of a long-term monitoring mechanism
(operational procedure), capable of providing critical information on the rate, extent and location of
resource utilisation and land-cover/use, will enhance this national effort. This includes effective
change assessment for landscapes and natural and man-impacted environments. Future efforts will focus
on enhancement of land cover mapping by including infrastructure and population data.
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