Coastal landscape classification using convolutional neural network and remote sensing data in Vietnam

The length of global coastline is about 356 thousand kilometers with various dynamic natural and anthropogenic. Although the number of studies on coastal landscape categorization has been increasing, it is still difficult to distinguish precisely them because the used methods commonly are traditional qualitative ones. With the leverage of remote sensing data and GIS tools, it helps categorize and identify a variety of features on land and water based on multi-source data. The aim of study is using different natural - social profile data obtained from ALOS, NOAA, and multi-temporal Landsat satellite images as input data of the convolutional-neural-network (CvNet) models for coastal landscape classification. Studies used 900 cut-line samples which represent coastal landscapes in Vietnam for training and optimizing CvNet models. As a result, nine coastal landscapes were identified including: deltas, alluvial, mature and young sand dunes, cliff, lagoon, tectonic, karst, and transitional landscapes. Three CvNet models using three different optimizer types classified the landscapes of other 1150 cutlines in Vietnam with the accuracies about 98% and low loss function value. Excepting dalmatian, karst and delta coastal landscapes, five others distribute heterogeneous along the coasts in Vietnam. Therefore, the evaluation of additional natural components is necessary and CvNet model have ability to update new landscape types in variety of tropical nation as a step toward coastal landscape classification at both national and global scales.

Automated summary

Using remote sensing data and GIS tools, the study aims to categorize coastal landscapes based on multi-source data with the help of convolutional-neural-network models. Nine coastal landscapes were identified, including deltas, alluvial, mature and young sand dunes, cliff, lagoon, tectonic, karst, and transitional landscapes. The CvNet models achieved high accuracy in classifying the landscapes along the coasts in Vietnam, except for dalmatian, karst and delta coastal landscapes. The evaluation of additional natural components is necessary and the CvNet model has the ability to update new landscape types at both national and global scales.