NATIONAL LAND COVER DATABASE AT SCALE 1:50,000 IN HUNGARY

The standard CORINE Land Cover (CLC) database (scale 1:100,000) covers most of the EU Member States (including the majority of the new members as well) and is used to support policy making at the pan-European level. National applications, however, require a more detailed database on Land Cover. As part of Hungary’s preparation to join the European Union, a CLC mapping programme at scale 1:50,000 has been implemented. The standard (level-3) CORINE Land Cover nomenclature was enhanced to include nearly 80 level-4/5 classes. Orthorectified SPOT-4 satellite images taken in 1998-99 and visual photointerpretation on computer screen have been applied to provide high positional accuracy. The 4 ha minimum mapping unit (1 ha for water) provides enhanced geometric details. Internal and external quality control procedures are other key elements to yield a high quality database. The paper highlights the European co-operation aspects, as well as introduces the technical novelties of the CLC50 project. Some of the applications of CLC50 are described.