Monitoring land conversions from forest/wetland to agriculture

The utility of LANDSAT data in monitoring largescale land clearance and drainage activities in a forest/wetland environment in northern Minnesota was investigated. LANDSAT tapes from 1973, 1978 and 1980 were used in a multitemporal unsupervised land cover classification of the 9 x 15 mile site. Results show quite clearly and in a cost-effective manner, where the greatest activity occurred. It was also possible to integrate the LANDSAT data with other data available through the Land Management Information Center's geographic information system.