Land use and land cover classification1

Spatially distributed land use and land cover (LULC) maps distinguishing not only natural land cover but also management practices such as irrigation are therefore essential for comprehensive water management analysis in a river basin. Advances in remote sensing technology and geospatial data processing applications enable classification and updating of LULC maps with adequate accuracy at various scales. Cropping calendar provides key information for refining land use classification for managed agricultural practices. Vegetation can also be evaluated by considering landscape features that are ideal for crop developments. Physical and climatic (seasonal) factors influence the vegetation growth in a similar way as observed in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index values for various LULC types. The peaks on the agricultural classes were quite distinctive of the cropping seasons, the Masika and Vuli seasons. The LULC classification provides an essential boundary condition for establishing the water use and management of green and blue water resources in the river basin.