Development of a Spectral Library for Mediterranean Land Cover Types

Land Cover/ Use mapping and classification algorithms require detailed information about the spectral separability between land cover types. Up to an extent, the increased spatial and radiometric resolution of the satellite sensors supports these activities. Spectral libraries are utilized to fine tune the selection of specific wavelength ranges or wavelength algebraic combinations for land cover type discrimination. Mostly these libraries, being integrated in a wider database or stand alone, apply to specific climatic, geographic conditions, and growth stage and status of the plants. Research activities throughout Europe have been enriching data collection about numerous surface targets for a long time.
The lack of such information was identified for the South East Mediterranean land cover types and is addressed by the present study. Focused on the vegetation cover and changes registration, the development of a measurement construction and strategy, similar and compliant to the rest European activities framework, but adjusted to the terrain conditions of South Eastern Mediterranean, was carried out within the GI@MED project in the framework of the Hellenic AID Programme.
Field spectra are being acquired from Crete (Chania Prefecture) and Egypt (Nile Delta) under a common methodology framework, and incorporated into a common spectral library for data and knowledge base development about various land cover types. Measurement results are cited, and the measurement strategy is discussed.