CORINE Level-2 Land Cover Classification from Sentinel-2 Images Using U-Net Deep Learning Model

Emin Atabey Peker; Murat Çalışkan; Eser Bora; Çiğdem İnan; Mehmet Erkan Uçaner

CORINE Level-2 Land Cover Classification from Sentinel-2 Images Using U-Net Deep Learning Model

Abstract

This study investigates the automated classification of CORINE Level 2 land cover classes using deep learning-based semantic segmentation in Türkiye. We implemented an advanced U-Net architecture incorporating spatial attention mechanisms and residual connections, utilizing multi-spectral Sentinel-2 imagery (RGB, NIR, and SWIR bands). A total of 92 working units were identified across Türkiye to represent all 15 classes of Level 2, covering 12,000 square kilometers (approximately 1.5% of the country's total area). The imagery was collected between June and September 2018, corresponding to the original CORINE 2018 production timeframe. The model was trained on 2,815 patches of 256x256 pixels generated from these working units. Our architecture integrates an Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling (ASPP) block for multi-scale feature extraction and employs a hybrid loss function combining Categorical Cross-Entropy and Jaccard Loss. The model achieved a mean IoU of 0.5018 across all classes, with particularly strong performance in water bodies (Marine Waters: 0.9077 IoU, Inland Waters: 0.8323 IoU) and permanent crops (0.6855 IoU). While the model excelled in classifying spectrally distinct classes, it faced challenges with classes sharing similar characteristics, such as artificial non-agricultural vegetated areas (0.1273 IoU) and pastures (0.1760 IoU). This research demonstrates the potential of deep learning approaches for automated CORINE land cover mapping, while highlighting areas for future improvement in distinguishing between spectrally similar classes.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Geomatic Engineering (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Emin Atabey Peker ^*
0000-0003-4161-8520
Türkiye

Murat Çalışkan
0000-0003-1863-9032
Türkiye

Eser Bora
0000-0002-5136-3659
Türkiye

Çiğdem İnan This is me
0009-0000-2626-8994
Türkiye

Mehmet Erkan Uçaner
0000-0003-3650-7842
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 30, 2025

Submission Date

February 21, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 15, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 12 Number: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA88PU57CU

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Peker, E. A., Çalışkan, M., Bora, E., İnan, Ç., & Uçaner, M. E. (2025). CORINE Level-2 Land Cover Classification from Sentinel-2 Images Using U-Net Deep Learning Model. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics, 12(2), 34-44. https://izlik.org/JA88PU57CU

AMA

1.Peker EA, Çalışkan M, Bora E, İnan Ç, Uçaner ME. CORINE Level-2 Land Cover Classification from Sentinel-2 Images Using U-Net Deep Learning Model. IJEGEO. 2025;12(2):34-44. https://izlik.org/JA88PU57CU

Chicago

Peker, Emin Atabey, Murat Çalışkan, Eser Bora, Çiğdem İnan, and Mehmet Erkan Uçaner. 2025. “CORINE Level-2 Land Cover Classification from Sentinel-2 Images Using U-Net Deep Learning Model”. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics 12 (2): 34-44. https://izlik.org/JA88PU57CU.

EndNote

Peker EA, Çalışkan M, Bora E, İnan Ç, Uçaner ME (June 1, 2025) CORINE Level-2 Land Cover Classification from Sentinel-2 Images Using U-Net Deep Learning Model. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics 12 2 34–44.

IEEE

[1]E. A. Peker, M. Çalışkan, E. Bora, Ç. İnan, and M. E. Uçaner, “CORINE Level-2 Land Cover Classification from Sentinel-2 Images Using U-Net Deep Learning Model”, IJEGEO, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 34–44, June 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA88PU57CU

ISNAD

Peker, Emin Atabey - Çalışkan, Murat - Bora, Eser - İnan, Çiğdem - Uçaner, Mehmet Erkan. “CORINE Level-2 Land Cover Classification from Sentinel-2 Images Using U-Net Deep Learning Model”. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics 12/2 (June 1, 2025): 34-44. https://izlik.org/JA88PU57CU.

JAMA

1.Peker EA, Çalışkan M, Bora E, İnan Ç, Uçaner ME. CORINE Level-2 Land Cover Classification from Sentinel-2 Images Using U-Net Deep Learning Model. IJEGEO. 2025;12:34–44.

MLA

Peker, Emin Atabey, et al. “CORINE Level-2 Land Cover Classification from Sentinel-2 Images Using U-Net Deep Learning Model”. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics, vol. 12, no. 2, June 2025, pp. 34-44, https://izlik.org/JA88PU57CU.

Vancouver

1.Emin Atabey Peker, Murat Çalışkan, Eser Bora, Çiğdem İnan, Mehmet Erkan Uçaner. CORINE Level-2 Land Cover Classification from Sentinel-2 Images Using U-Net Deep Learning Model. IJEGEO [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 1;12(2):34-4. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA88PU57CU