Georgia Land Use Trends (GLUT)
Understanding the Data

Maps were developed using Landsat satellite imagery, which is a series of individual snapshots over time. The thirteen land cover categories used represent the physical material covering the earth’s surface that can be seen easily from space, for example open water.

The first Landsat satellite was deployed in 1972. These early (spatial) images had an individual pixel resolution of 80 x 80 meters. Large pixel resolution, along with a limited number of wave lengths reflected off the earth’s surface and picked up by the sensors, restricted mapping to thirteen categories.

Land cover maps from 1974 and 1985 were developed from Landsat MSS. Maps developed after 1985 used Landsat TM and ETM+ imagery. These images have a spatial resolution (individual pixels) of 30 meters. This allowed sensors to capture additional wave lengths of surface reflectance, increasing the number of categories of data.

In addition to spectral information from the satellite, we used data sets that provided road, topography, hydrology, and wetland data.

The land cover maps are the results of modeling. Every means possible has been taken to maintain a high level of accuracy in the mapping process; however, some level of error does exist in these data sets.

Information can be used for a number of purposes including: greenspace planning, comprehensive planning, water quality modeling, watershed assessments, and wildlife habitat assessment, to name a few. Data should not be used for any site level assessment and field verification is highly recommended before any assessment is completed.

The University of Georgia assumes no liability for the use of these data.