Land Use Classification Project

The Land Use Classification Project is a partnership venture between North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service (NDASS) and North Dakota State University Extension Service (NDSU). The project is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 319 funds (Non-Point Source Pollution Water Quality Protection). The purpose of the project is to:

• Process and interpret statewide satellite imagery to produce useful data
  for application in agriculture and natural resource management.

• To produce annual land cover specific digital datasets (by county and state)
  for use in existing and new water resource protection projects within the state.

• Explore and promote public use of remotely sensed land use data within the state.
  

The land use data production is achieved through the Cropland Data Layer Program initiated by the National Agricultural Statistics Service's (NASS) Spatial Analysis Research Section and North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service (NDASS). The major focus of the program is to produce digital categorized geo-referenced output products using imagery from the Thematic Mapper (TM) instrument on the LANDSAT 5 and the Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) on the LANDSAT 7 satellite (Earth Resources Observation Satellites). Under the program annual statewide land use categorization data have been produced since 1997.

Through the use of computer analysis technologies ----geographic information systems (GIS), geographic imaging, and digital image processing ---- the Cropland Data Layer Program is developing, on annual basis, wide-area-coverage (state and county level) land use classification images using medium-resolution LANDSAT satellites imagery. The final land use datasets show the spatial distribution of specific agricultural crops, natural vegetation and other land cover. The land use images reveals the locational variations and types of various land covers and can, therefore, be used in land cover identification, land use monitoring, land use updating and mapping. The NDASS is currently using crop specific numerical acreage estimates derived from the classified images as input into official state and county estimates. The datasets are distributed on CD-ROM and can also be viewed online. To order a CD-ROM send us your requests.

The project is also involved in extension educational program. The extension programming is centered around promoting the use and integration of remotely sensed land use datasets in agriculture and natural resource management, land use planning and other land development projects. This goal is achieved through training and demonstration in displaying and analysis of the datasets as well as basic GIS knowledge and skills. The educational activities are designed to help the general public, educators and youth better understand the concept and practical applications of the satellite imagery-based land use data. For information on training activities go to scheduled workshops & training