EUROSTAT
Directorate E: Sectoral and regional statistics
Unit E-4: Regional statistics and geographical information
Luxemburg,
EUROSTAT/E-4/AP/
WG/LCU/31
WorkingGroupforland Cover/Use statisticsmeeting on 11 June 2013, 09:00 – 17:00
in Luxembourg,
BECHbuilding - Quetelet
Chaired by: Gunter Schäfer
Draft Minutes
Agenda: see doc WG/LCU/25
Introduction
Mr. Pedro Diaz, Director of Directorate E, opened the Working Group (WG) on Land Cover/Use statistics and introduced the aims of the working group.
1.objective of the meeting
The Working Group on Land Cover and Land Use last met in June 2010. Eurostat had just started cooperating with Member States through an advisory group (AG) on land cover/use statistics. The members of this AG were nominated by the DIMESA and CPSA committees, when Eurostat had to carry out a new LUCAS survey for 2012. Preparing the LUCAS survey is time consuming and has to start two years in advance, Eurostat’s priorities have been re-focused on the LUCAS 2012 campaign, however cooperation activities went on within the framework of the AG. Since January 2012, the AG has met three times. It produced a final document and proposed a strategy for future land cover/use data collection. In the meantime, grant agreements have been launched, and the LUCAS 2012 survey has been completed. The aim of this meeting of the working group is twofold, to update Member States on on-going Eurostat activities, and to discuss the proposed short- and long-term strategy for future data collection, which was the outcome of the AG.
Mr. Gunter Schaefer, Head of Unit E1, welcomed the Delegates and explained the programme of the day.
2.Adoption of the agenda(Doc. WG/LCU/25)
The agenda (Doc. WG/LCU/25) was adopted
3.Approval of the minute of the previous WG (Doc. CPSA/LCU/18)
The minutes were approved without any change.
4.Eurostat on-going activities
4.1.INSPIRE compliant Land Cover and Land Use Classification
Presentation
INSPIRE Directive 2007/2/EC aims at a better use of spatial information. To this end data specifications for land cover and land use data are under development and obtained the positive opinion of the INSPIRE Committee in April 2013. The LUCAS team followed these developments closely and there is a good agreement between the LUCAS classification and the INSPIRE classification, however some adjustments will be needed in order to get LUCAS completely INSPIRE compliant. In order to adapt the LUCAS land cover survey classification to INSPIRE pure land cover classes (PLCC) the main change required concerns the mixed classes, which at the level of the field survey should be registered in terms of their components. To adapt LUCAS land use survey classification the main change required concerns the secondary production. His production is currently divided by sector, e.g. manufacturing of textiles, wood. In accordance with INSPIRE the main subdivision should be based on raw industry, heavy end industry, light end industry and energy production. As this reflects the environmental impact well, it is actually well suited for LUCAS needs.
Discussion
INSPIRE also foresees classes such as “OtherIndustry”, “OtherMiningAndQuarrying”… Participants were asked if they see the need for such classes. One country replied that the term “other” should be avoided where possible; instead the content should clearly defined, and a more precise class name should give more clear indication about the content of the class. Having said that, it is in general useful to have a collective class where all “other” features can be placed, instead of forcing them into just any given class that does not really fit to them. Participants pointed out that hunting is very difficult to detect in the field. This was confirmed by Eurostat and indeed it should not be included in the field survey. One country pointed out that it is very difficult to assess the percentage of the various pure land cover components in the field. The issue of continuity of historical series was raised; a solution could be the collection of double classification in the next survey, meaning both the classification according to the previous nomenclature and in the same time according to the new modified system to be able to compare between both results and assess changed in information content due to methodological modifications.
Conclusions
Discussion will be carefully evaluated and considered during the update of the documents for the next LUCAS.
4.2.Available sourcesforland cover/use data
Presentation
A summary of the issues tackled at the advisory group regarding data sources for Land Cover and Land Use was presented to the Working Group members. Data sources with interest for Land Use and Land Cover are already available at Eurostat but except for LUCAS, these are sectorial and do not cover for all the needs expressed by the users. Member states also have data sources on Land Cover and Land Use, spanning from mapping initiatives, to cadastral or administrative data. Several initiatives (past and on-going) have attempted to produce a comprehensive catalogue of such sources.
Discussion
Member states were invited to take part in on-going initiatives aiming at getting a a clear picture of the available sources, like the INSPIRE Geoportal and to further participate in future Eurostat initiatives (eg. Grants) aiming at collection of existing national data sources.
Conclusions
During the discussion corrections to the Data Sources document were requested by Spain. Eurostat will correct the document accordingly and upload it to CIRCABC. Some Member states informed that combination of data from different (statistical, mapping or administrative) are already being used.
4.2.1.Case study: total area Data comparison
The LUCAS Team presented a pilot exercise on comparison of existing data on Eurostat regarding the Total Area of the Member States. It was shown that in different tables the concept enunciated as "Total Area" produces different results. One of the reasons behind this is the lack of clear and un-ambiguous definitions regarding the concepts of "Total Area", "Land Area" and "Water Area".
Conclusions
In the next weeks Eurostat will disseminate a request for clarification on the methods, definitions and responsible entities at National Level for the provision of such data
4.3.Grant agreements on land cover/use statistics
Presentation
In 2012 Eurostat has launched grants on land use and land cover statistics to explore a better integration of MemberState data into the Eurostat production cycle, in order to produce high level statistics and assuring cost efficiency and timeliness. The first part of the grants concerns the production of statistics and the access to micro data. The second part of the grants explores the integration of the LUCAS survey into a national in-situ survey. Seven grants have been awarded: DE, EL, IT, NL, NO, PL, PT. All grants cover the first part and four grants cover also the second part. A task force meeting took place the day before. The experts that participated cover a broad field of expertise.
Two Grant Holders, namely Italy and the Netherlands made a presentation with their main findings. Concerning Italy it was acknowledged the effort of coordinating and clarifying a fragmented data source situation and results from the Netherlands sounded promising especially as far as Land Use is concerned.
Discussion
Presentations and discussions included among others:
- An in-depth analysis of the available data sources and the need of coordinative actions,
- The integration of different data sources (in-situ survey, geographic data…): methodologies, quality measurements, added value of the different sources
Conclusions
Eurostat will foster an interactive development of the grants. As suggested by a MemberState the main findings and questions will be shared with all the countries (not only the grant holders) as they become available. The current grants will terminate in June 2014 with a 2 days technical workshop. New grants are planned for 2014 and input on specific issues is welcome.
5.LUCAS 2012 Survey update
Presentation
The LUCAS 2012 survey covered 270.276 points in all 27 EU Member States and field work finished in early autumn. The survey ran smoothly in most countries. The companies responsible for the 5 field work lots submitted all points to the external quality control. The external quality control has again proven to be very important for the overall data quality.
Currently the raw data is consolidated and Eurostat is performing its internal quality checks. A first release of primary data main variables was put on line on the Eurostat website in the dedicated section on land cover/use statistics in April 2013 (Quarter 2 as initially planned). The statistical tables will be published in the Eurostat database later on in the year. The landscape photo archive so far disseminated via the User Support will be available through the Statistical ATLAS. Some preliminary results were presented.
Discussion
Clarification on the non-sampling quality indicators and on the changes in the land cover detected from preliminary comparison with 2009 data were provided. Concerning the detail of classification classes it was clarified that Eurostat is aware of the existence of better sources than LUCAS for cropland; while Eurostat publishes very aggregated tables concerning crop-land, from in situ data point of view there is a need of more detailed classification. Once more it was stated that LUCAS is not a tool for checking cross compliance.
Conclusions
It was confirmed that LUCAS is not a tool for checking cross compliance.
6.Short and long term strategy on land cover and land use information
Presentation
Eurostat gave a combined presentation of items 5.1 Report from Advisory Group and 5.2 Short and long term strategy on land cover/use data collection.
On the base of several users’ consultation and an assessment of the needs, a strategy for the
future data collections on Land Use and Land Cover statistics (LUCAS) was discussed andaccepted by the participating Member States as well the stakeholder DGs during the final meeting of the Advisory Group on Land use and Land Cover on 7 March 2013.
The differentposition, policy requirements, Member States data and objectives, and Eurostat’s role as aprovider of basic infrastructure and coordinator of statistical production were taken intoaccount.
The strategy allows a flexible approach to land cover/use data collection and is divided into short and long term:
- carrying out of a simplified LUCAS (no transect, no specific modules) in 2015 (undercondition of financial commitment of the DGs) and;
- preparing for a more comprehensive LUCAS (with new specific modules to be agreedbetween the DGs) and inclusion of national data sets, where comparable andharmonised, starting from 2018 onwards.
Discussion
Some MS prefer LUCAS to remain under voluntary data collection, while for other a solid legal base is absolutely needed; it was clarified that an eventual specific legal basis for LUCAS would not solve the issue of access to private properties.
The strategy was welcomed, in particular the opening for a closer involvement of Member
States in the land cover/use data providing. DG CLIMA précised that they are not direct users of LUCAS data: Member States are, as they need such kind of information for their reporting obligation. DG ENV supported the position, underlining among others, the uncertainties of funds availability for LUCAS 2015.
Conclusions
The implementation of LUCAS 2015 depends on the agreement with other DGs about the available resources.
The strategy proposal will allow flexible approaches to land cover/use data collection. A task force should will be put in place for the preparation of surveys from 2018 onwards and inorder to be able to integrate national data sets where comparable and harmonised. A first meeting for the Task Force is foreseen for November 2013. There is a need to explore the specific legal basis for the future. The discussion of the strategy will go on in the ESSC meetings.
7.Any Other Business
The EAGLE concept
Mr. Arnold (DE) presented the EAGLE[1]concept, a new feature-oriented land modelling approach to compare different land cover/use classifications. Both the Data Model (UML chart) and the Matrix (Excel table), which represent the same content but in different forms of technical and visual presentation, were explained.The structure of the matrix is threefold und divided into three main blocks: a) The land cover components (LCC), b) land use attributes (LUA) and c) further landscape characteristics (CH). The LCC block is considered to be consolidated and stablerepresenting the starting point of land surface modelling, The LUA block is very closely related to the HILUCS classes, and the CH block describes the basic LC and LU information with further details, properties, spatial patterns, ecosystem type, parameters etc. The latter part of the Characteristics is the most flexible one and is likely to be changed or modified due to the user´s requirements.
The EAGLE concept is not yet another classification system, but rather a collection of elements like a semantic modular construction system, which allows to decompose given LC/LU classes into its defining elements and compare them between two different classification systems. Furthermore the concept can be used not only as a semantic translation tool between different classification systems, but also as a conceptual basis for LC/LU mapping and description. Within this concept several existing standards have been taken into account (ISO, INSPIRE, CLC, LUCAS), aiming at being interoperable with them. The EAGLE activities for the time being are incorporated in the FP7 Project HELM[2].
Discussion
It was asked whether there have already been concrete cases of implementation of Eagle methods; so far several test-wise semantic transformation and decomposition applications have been done like against CORINE Land Cover classes, the LUCAS LC classes, and some semantic checks on national level (Belgium/Flanders, Romania/Danube Delta, SouthTyrol/Italy, Germany, Spain); more are on-going and will follow.Eurostat takes into consideration to integrate the EAGLE concept as a conceptual basis for semantic harmonisation processesin their further planning regarding future land monitoring activities.
Conclusions
Power point presentation will be uploaded into CircaBc.
1
/ EUROPEAN COMMISSIONEUROSTAT
Directorate E: Sectoral and regional statistics
Unit E-4: Regional Statistics and Geographical information /
PRESENCE LIST OF THE WORKING PARTY ON "Cooperation on Land Cover/Use Statistics"
building Bech – Room Quetelet – on 11 June 2011
Important information for the delegates on personal data protection:
In the framework of this working party on "Land cover/use statistics" your personal data [name, address, etc.] will be registered according to article 2(b) of the Regulation EC N° 45/2001 (OJ N° L8 dated 12.1.2001, pages 1 to 22). Should you require further information or exercise your rights (e.g. access or rectify data), please contact Ms Alessandra PALMIERI, responsible for this meeting.
LISTE DES PARTICIPANTS - LIST OF PARTICIPANTS – TEILNEHMERLISTE
DELEGATIONS / EXPERTNom, prénom
Family name and surname
Name, Vorname / ADMINISTRATION
Adresse du bureau, N° Téléphone, fax, E-mail
Office address, telephone, fax number and E-mail
Büroanschrifit, Telefon, Faxnummer und E-Mail-adresse / SIGNATURE
11/06/2013 / EXPERT A REMBOUR
SER (O/N)
A remplir par Eurostat
BULGARIA / Ms Teodora SEMERDZHIEVA /
Senior Expert
Agrostatistics Department
Directorate Agriculture and Land relations
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Bulgaria
Tel. + 359 2 985 11 219
Fax. + 359 2 980 82 94
55, Blvd. "Hristo Botev"
Sofia, 1040
e-mail:
/ O
DEUTSCHLAND / Mr Michael DEGGAU / Statistisches Bundesamt
Gustav-Stresemann-Ring 11
65189 Wiesbaden Germany
E-mail:
DEUTSCHLAND / Mr Stephan ARNOLD / Statistisches Bundesamt
Gustav-Stresemann-Ring 11
65189 Wiesbaden Germany
E-mail:
ESTONIA / MsEve VALDVEE / Project Leader
Agricultural Statistics Department
Phone: +372 625 9397
/ O
IRELAND / Mr Morgan O’DONNELL / Agriculture Accounts Section
CSO
Skehard Rd
Cork
Ireland
Tel: 00 353 21 4535333
/ O
ESPAÑA / Ms. Paloma SEOANE SPIEGELBERG / Subdirectora General de Estadística
Secretaría General Técnica
Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente
Paseo Infanta Isabel I
28070 Madrid
Telefono: (+34) 913475139
Email: / O
ESPAÑA / Ms Carmen BARRERO / Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente
Paseo Infanta Isabel I
28070 Madrid
Email: / N
FRANCE / Ms Camille FONTES-ROUSSEAU / Responsable des statistiques occupation du territoire
Ministère de l'agriculture - SG - SSP - SDSAFA
Bureau des Statistiques Structurelles Environnementales et Forestières
Complexe agricole d'Auzeville BP 32688
31326 Castanet-Tolosan
Tél : 05 61 28 94 87 / Fax : 05 61 28 94 43 / O
ITALIA / Mr Marco BALLIN / ISTAT
Division for Structural Economic Statistics
Via A. Rava 150
I - 00142 Roma
Phone: 0039 6 4673 4536
Fax: 00 39 6 4667 8227
E-mail: / O
ITALIA / Mr. Sandro CRUCIANI / Principal Researcher
Territorial Information and Geographic Information System Division
Development of Information Systems and Corporate Products, Information Management and Quality Assessment Directorate
e-mail: / N
LATVIA / Ms Guna KARLSONE / Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia
Agricultural and Environment Statistics Department
Agricultural Statistics Section
Lacplesa St. 1
LV-1301 Riga
Phone: +371 7366 981
Fax: +371 7830 137
E-mail: / O
HUNGARY / Mr. György LENGYEL / Hungarian Central Statistical Office
Agriculture and Environment Statistics Department
Keleti Károly utca 5-7
H-1024 Budapest
E-mail: / O
NETHERLANDS / Ms. Chantal MELSER / Statistics Netherlands
Project leader Land Use Statistics
P.O. Box 24500
NL-2490 HA Den Haag
Phone: + 31 - 70 - 337 4483
Fax: +31 70 3375
E-mail: / O
NETHERLANDS / Mr Gerard HAZEU / E-mail:
NORWAY / Mr Erik ENGELIEN / Statistics Norway
E-mail:
ÖSTERREICH / Ms Martina DÖTZL / STATISTICS AUSTRIA
Directorate Spatial Statistics
Agriculture and Forestry
Guglgasse 13
1110 Vienna
phone: +43 (1) 711 28-7344
fax: +43 (1) 711 28-8155
mail:
/ O
POLAND / Mr. Artur LACZYNSKI / CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE
Agricultural Statistics Division
Al. Niepodleglosci 208
PL-00925 WARSAW
E-mail:) / N
POLAND / Mr. Tomasz MILEWSKI / Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics - National Research Institute - Farm Accountancy Department
ul. Świętokrzyska 20
PL – 00-002 Warszawa
Phone: +48 22 505 4580
Fax: +48 22 826 61 58
E-mail: / O
PORTUGAL / Mr.Francisco VALA / Instituto Nacional de Estatistica
DPCI/SRIC Deslocacoes ao Estrangeiro
Avenida Antonio José de Almeida, 5
P-1000 Lisboa, Portugal
E-mail: / O
SLOVAKIA / Mr Vladimír HUTAR / SO SR, Bratislava,
Soil Science and research Institute
E-mail: / O
SVERIGE - SE / Mr Jerker MÖSTROM / Environmental Accounts and Natural Resources
Regions and Environment Department
Statistics Sweden
+46 8-506 940 31
/ O
SWITZERLAND / Mr. Anton BEYELER / Office fédéral de la statistique
Espace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Phone: +41 32 713 61 61
Fax: +41 32 713 65 60
E-mail: / N
EEA / Mr Branislav OLAH / Project manager - Land use analysis
European Environment Agency
Kongens Nytorv 6
DK-1050 Copenhagen K
email: / N
EUROPEAN COMMISSION / Nom, prénom
Family name and surname
Name, Vorname / -E-mail
-E-Mail-adresse / SIGNATURE
11/06/2013
DG ESTAT E-0 / Mr Pedro DÍAZ MUÑOZ / E-mail:
DG ESTAT E-4 / Mr Gunter SCHAEFER / E-mail:
DG ESTAT E-4 / Ms Alessandra PALMIERI / E-mail:
DG ESTAT E-4 / Ms Beatrice EISELT / E-mail:
DG ESTAT E-4 / Ms Helena RAMOS / E-mail:
DG ESTAT E-4 / Mr Paolo DOMINICI / E-mail:
DG CLIMA A2 / Mr Asger OLESEN / E-mail:
DG AGRI / Mrs Gesa WESSELER / E-mail:
DG ENTR / Mr Silvo Zlebir / E-mail:
DG ENV D4 / Ms MASSON Josiane (ENV) / E-mail:
Responsable de la réunion :