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Data

Total cover - MODIS, Land Condition Index (LCI) algorithm, Australia coverage 

Ver: 1.0
Status of Data: completed
Update Frequency: Data not provided
Security Classification: unclassified
Record Last Modified: 2025-12-02
Viewed 1992 times
Accessed 136 times
Dataset Created: 2014-03-26
Dataset Published: 2021-09-23
Data can be accessed from the following links:
HTTPPoint-of-truth metadata URLHTTPCloud Optimised GeoTIFFs - Land Condition Index (LCI)WMSland_condition_index_total_coverHTTPLandscape Data Visualiser - Total coverClarke, K., Lewis, M., Dutkiewicz, A., Forward, G., and Ostendorf, B., (2011) Spatial and Temporal Monitoring of Soil Erosion Risk with Satellite Imagery. Land Condition Monitoring Reports, Report 4. The University of Adelaide/attachment/1187da4b-a155-4174-ba4e-6bd80a1d48d4/Report_4_Spatial_and_temporal_monitoring_of_soil_er_XlF0mFI.pdfHTTPro-crate-metadata.json
How to cite this collection:
Clarke, K. & Lewis, M. (2021). Total cover - MODIS, Land Condition Index (LCI) algorithm, Australia coverage. Version 1.0. Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network. Dataset. https://portal.tern.org.au/metadata/1187da4b-a155-4174-ba4e-6bd80a1d48d4 
The MODIS Land Condition Index (LCI) is an index of total vegetation cover (green and non-photosynthetic vegetation ), and so is also an index of soil exposure. The LCI is a normalised difference index based on MODIS bands in the mid-infrared portion of the spectrum. The index is produced from 500-m MODIS nadir BRDF adjusted reflectance (NBAR) data. As with all products derived from passive remote sensing imagery, this product represents the world as seen from above. Therefore, the cover recorded by this product represent what would be observed from a birds-eye-view. Therefore, dense canopy may prevent observation of significant soil exposure. 
Credit
We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. 
Purpose
Land Cover Index is relevant for image based soil exposure monitoring. Used for reporting: - all general seasonal patterns, and all major deviations from average seasonal patterns (e.g., unusually wet or dry years) - fortnightly changes in soil exposure, by reporting region, from 2000 to 2010 - magnitude of erosion vulnerability (duration of soil exposure multiplied by severity of soil exposure) - visualise change in land protected from erosion relative to 2003 LCI is capable of measuring trends in soil exposure over time, and how the LCI can be used to report against the South Australian State Strategic Plan (SASSP) soil protection target 
Lineage
Data not provided. 
Method DocumentationData not provided.
Procedure StepsData not provided.
Australia
Temporal Coverage
From 2000-02-18 to 2011-11-09 
Spatial Resolution

Data not provided.

Vertical Extent

Data not provided.

Data Quality Assessment Scope
Product completeness is dependent on the completeness of the underlying MODIS product, MCD43A4. The MCD43A4 product uses 16 day compositing to minimise the chance of failing to acquire data due to cloud cover, and to maximise the quality of the recorded reflectance. However, frequent cloud cover still prevents acquisition of data, most notably in the far northern tropical areas of Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland in the rainy season (November to April), and in Tasmania in the winter (June to August). The LCI is an index of total vegetation cover (green and non-photosynthetic vegetation ), and so is also an index of soil exposure. Importantly this means that it is unit-less, and is not intended to report absolute vegetation or soil fraction. It may be possible to calibrate the LCI to absolute fractions for a specific region, with appropriate field data, as was done in Clarke et al., (2011). 
Data Quality Report
Data not provided. 
Data Quality Assessment Outcome
The LCI has been evaluated against two sets of South Australian field data; 1) field fractional cover (photosynthetic vegetation (PV), non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) and soil) measured at MODIS scale sites (15 sites, x 3 dates), and; 2) rapid field cover assessment data (> 5,500 sites x 4 dates). These evaluations are documented in Clarke et al., (2011). Additional validation comparing LCI to the other AusCover fractional cover products and to SLATS field data is underway. 
ANZSRC - FOR
Climate change impacts and adaptation
Land capability and soil productivity
GCMD Sciences
BIOSPHERE - VEGETATION COVER
LAND SURFACE - SOIL EROSION
LAND SURFACE - SOILS
Horizontal Resolution
500 meters - < 1 km
Instruments
MODIS
Parameters
land condition index
Platforms
Aqua
Terra
Temporal Resolution
Weekly - < Monthly
Topic
environment
User Defined
LCI
Author
Clarke, Ken
Co-Author
Lewis, Megan
Contact Point
Clarke, Ken
Publisher
Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network
Clarke, K., Lewis, M., Dutkiewicz, A., Forward, G., and Ostendorf, B., (2011) Spatial and Temporal Monitoring of Soil Erosion Risk with Satellite Imagery. Land Condition Monitoring Reports, Report 4. The University of Adelaide/attachment/1187da4b-a155-4174-ba4e-6bd80a1d48d4/Report_4_Spatial_and_temporal_monitoring_of_soil_er_XlF0mFI.pdf
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