Land use mapping

[ChrisGibbard]

Hello,

An amateurish question here:

I am performing a study which requires looking at the different land usage/cover types within the radius of a buffer down to quite fine detail.  What datasets/maps are available which have predefined land cover polygons, if any?  I am thinking something similar to the UK's OS Mastermap series which has split the landscape up into polygons each with their own TOID and surface description (see: http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/products/os-mastermap/index.html).

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

[ChrisCorwin]

If you are in the US, I am guessing your best bet is to contact your local Forest Service, BLM or State Department of Lands first. This is not something that would be easy to use. Since you mentioned trying to do a study, I am guessing you are a student. If that is the case, check with your college GIS department and see if there are any Remote Sensing Students. They might be able to/have used LANDSAT data to create the polygons you are looking for. You might want to post this question in a Natural Resources or Remote Sensing forum. This one is more on tax parcels. Good Luck.

[ChrisGibbard]

Thanks for the advice ccorwin15.  I know someone at the local forestry department who can help with local mapping.  LANDSAT data is my next step as I think I can manually create the polygons myself that I need (this will take time but is not a huge task). 

Much appreciated.

[PaulScholefield]

If you are looking for land cover for the UK, then OS have helped the UK in the creation of their own Land Cover map, which uses the same spatial framework as OS Mastermap.

Hope this helps!

Paul