deal with the inconsistency in land parcel data (Inan et al. 2010; Leteinturier et al.
2006). Agricultural research became easier to be conducted based on the good land
parcel management system (Leteinturier et al. 2006; Lin et al. 2016). The availability
of land parcel information benefited scientists to have better understanding on crop
growth and rotation (Leteinturier et al. 2006). Agro-geoinformation systems also
monitor the damages from natural disaster, and land parcel serves as a critical
information when evaluating the impacts of natural disasters on agricultural fields
such as acreage affected and yield loss (Han et al. 2012; Lin et al. 2016).
Both scientific and industrial communities developed land parcel information
systems for agricultural purpose. Scientists have noticed the importance of having
land parcel information for the entire United States since the last century (Okpala
1992). Many researches focused on the development of national land parcel database
(a part of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure) (Library of Congress 2011;
National Research Council 2007). Most land parcel databases were developed at
state level and funded by the Federal fund. After that, a national land parcel database
was developed by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) using the
standards (Library of Congress 2011; National Research Council 2007). Most
scientific land parcel identification systems mainly focus on collecting public land
due to the limited access and releasing of private-owned land. The successful
development of land parcel database for large-scale relies on techniques such as
remote sensing and GIS. Traditional land parcel identification and information
validation were heavily relying on the manual correction and field trip (Tasdemir
and Wirnhardt 2012). Remote sensing is able to release the pressure on manual
intervention and provide reliable source for land parcel identification systems
(Tasdemir and Wirnhardt 2012). Remote sensing-based automatic land parcel identification required high-spatial-resolution aerial or satellite images which means the
temporal resolution will be relative low. The moderate or coarse temporal resolution
will have limited influence on automated generated land parcel identification system
since the change of land parcel is not frequent.
Unlike the free distribution of government data, private companies from different sectors managed several types of land parcel database. For example, Zillow is
one of the leading online search tools for real estate managing land parcel data on
residential (PR Newswire 2012). AcreValue is another company selling information on farmland parcels. Both companies provide land parcel information, but
their audiences are different. As a result, the attribute for one land parcel is
different from two companies. For example, land parcel data on AcreValue are
prepared for agricultural activities, so there are some agricultural land parcels
existing in AcreValue’s database while not showing on Zillow’s website since
Zillow focuses on real estate (Fig. 9.2).
Both national land parcel database and land parcel data from private companies
have few limitations. First, a continues update of parcel database is needed (Rindfuss
et al. 2004). Although attributes or boundaries for single land parcel do not change
frequently, many data need to be updated since the database covers a large geographic area. Secondly, it is hard for a national database to manage all detailed
information for each state (Rindfuss et al. 2004). For instance, a state may have
9 Land Parcel Identification
169
2006). Agricultural research became easier to be conducted based on the good land
parcel management system (Leteinturier et al. 2006; Lin et al. 2016). The availability
of land parcel information benefited scientists to have better understanding on crop
growth and rotation (Leteinturier et al. 2006). Agro-geoinformation systems also
monitor the damages from natural disaster, and land parcel serves as a critical
information when evaluating the impacts of natural disasters on agricultural fields
such as acreage affected and yield loss (Han et al. 2012; Lin et al. 2016).
Both scientific and industrial communities developed land parcel information
systems for agricultural purpose. Scientists have noticed the importance of having
land parcel information for the entire United States since the last century (Okpala
1992). Many researches focused on the development of national land parcel database
(a part of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure) (Library of Congress 2011;
National Research Council 2007). Most land parcel databases were developed at
state level and funded by the Federal fund. After that, a national land parcel database
was developed by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) using the
standards (Library of Congress 2011; National Research Council 2007). Most
scientific land parcel identification systems mainly focus on collecting public land
due to the limited access and releasing of private-owned land. The successful
development of land parcel database for large-scale relies on techniques such as
remote sensing and GIS. Traditional land parcel identification and information
validation were heavily relying on the manual correction and field trip (Tasdemir
and Wirnhardt 2012). Remote sensing is able to release the pressure on manual
intervention and provide reliable source for land parcel identification systems
(Tasdemir and Wirnhardt 2012). Remote sensing-based automatic land parcel identification required high-spatial-resolution aerial or satellite images which means the
temporal resolution will be relative low. The moderate or coarse temporal resolution
will have limited influence on automated generated land parcel identification system
since the change of land parcel is not frequent.
Unlike the free distribution of government data, private companies from different sectors managed several types of land parcel database. For example, Zillow is
one of the leading online search tools for real estate managing land parcel data on
residential (PR Newswire 2012). AcreValue is another company selling information on farmland parcels. Both companies provide land parcel information, but
their audiences are different. As a result, the attribute for one land parcel is
different from two companies. For example, land parcel data on AcreValue are
prepared for agricultural activities, so there are some agricultural land parcels
existing in AcreValue’s database while not showing on Zillow’s website since
Zillow focuses on real estate (Fig. 9.2).
Both national land parcel database and land parcel data from private companies
have few limitations. First, a continues update of parcel database is needed (Rindfuss
et al. 2004). Although attributes or boundaries for single land parcel do not change
frequently, many data need to be updated since the database covers a large geographic area. Secondly, it is hard for a national database to manage all detailed
information for each state (Rindfuss et al. 2004). For instance, a state may have
9 Land Parcel Identification
169