ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the process of semantic information extraction, analyzes the semantic elements used for the definition of Land Use and Land Cover (LU/LC) classes and presents examples from different LU/LC classifications. LU/LC are important aspects for the interpretation and monitoring of the geospatial world. LU/LC classifications are commonly developed using a top-down approach, that is, by specifying the attributes or classifiers subsequently used to form classes. Similar top-down approaches have been developed for the formalization of existing LU/LC classifications to enable their comparison in a meaningful way and thus information exchange across different mapping projects. LC classes are defined by a combination of a set of land cover elements. Geographic definitions include orientation relations based on only the intrinsic and absolute frames of reference; since there is no perceiver involved when defining LU/LC classes.
