Steffen Kuntz

Prof. Dr. Steffen Kuntz

1. Department for Remote Sensing and Landscape Information Systems, Faculty for Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacherstr. 4, 79085 Freiburg, Germany
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

13Years (2014-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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23 April 2015 in Remote Sensing
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CKChristos Karydas
Christos Karydas
Ioannis Z. GitasIoannis Z. Gitas
Ioannis Z. Gitas
Steffen KuntzSteffen Kuntz
Steffen Kuntz
CMChara Minakou
Chara Minakou
In this study, the Land Use/Cover Area frame statistical Survey (LUCAS) of 2009 was used as a reference dataset for validating a Land Cover Map of Greece for 2007, produced with remote sensing by the Greek Office of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF Hellas). First, all class definitions were decomposed in terms of four vegetation parameters (type, height, density, and composition), considered as critical in indicating unconformities between LUCAS and the WWF Hellas map; their inter-class relations were described in a table of correspondence. Then, a two-tier methodology was applied: an “automated” process, where thematic agreement was based exclusively on the main land cover attribute of LUCAS (LC1); and a “supervised” process, where thematic agreement was based on the reinterpretation of LUCAS ground photos and use of ancillary earth observation imagery; non-square error matrix was deployed in both processes. For the supervised process specifically, a decision-tree was designed, using the critical vegetation parameters (mentioned above) as quantified criteria, thus allowing objective labelling of testing points in both systems. The results show that only a small proportion of the reassessed points verified the WWF Hellas map predictions and that the overall accuracy of the supervised process was reduced compared to that of the automated process. In conclusion, the LUCAS point database was found to be supportive, but not fully efficient, for identifying the various sources of error in country-scale land cover maps derived with remote sensing. Synergy with very high resolution satellite images and air photos, or a dedicated ground truth campaign, seems to be inevitable in order to validate their thematic accuracy, especially in highly heterogeneous environments. In this direction, LUCAS could be used as a verification, rather than a validation, dataset.

27 January 2014
Verified
Book Chapter
Closed access
PDF file
Steffen KuntzSteffen Kuntz
Steffen Kuntz
ESElisabeth Schmeer
Elisabeth Schmeer
MJMarkus Jochum
Markus Jochum
Geoff SmithGeoff Smith
Geoff Smith