A key component in determining the accuracy of remote sensing and machine learning is referred to as ground truth data. Ground truthing allows the user to check the results of the remote sensing analysis against the real world by collecting real features and materials on the ground. The collection of this data enables the user to both calibrate the algorithms used, as well as validate the accuracy of the results.
Land IQ has a fundamental belief that the accuracy of any product is a result of the high-quality data collected. Land IQ collects ground truth data for numerous projects, but the most vigorous set of data collected is for our Statewide Land Use Mapping project in cooperation with the Department of Water Resources. For the most recently released data set, over 15.3 million acres were mapped with an accuracy of 98.1%, which was the result of the collection of over 83,038 data points across 56 crop classes.
In determining accuracy in our mapping, error results vary among crop types. In particular some less extensive crops that have very few validation samples may have a skewed error result depending on the number and nature of validation sample points. This helps our team in future mapping events develop the best routes for collecting the most meaningful data, which means thousands of miles traveled across California. In fact, our team traveled over 16,000 miles in 2022, collecting nearly 94,000 points!
Sometimes it takes going where most people will not – to get the best data!