Exploring the Sensitivity of Recurrent Neural Network Models for Forecasting Land Cover Change

Alysha van Duynhoven and Suzana Dragićević
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Alysha van Duynhoven: Spatial Analysis and Modeling Laboratory, Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A1S6, Canada
Suzana Dragićević: Spatial Analysis and Modeling Laboratory, Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A1S6, Canada

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-29

Abstract: Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs), including Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) architectures, have obtained successful outcomes in timeseries analysis tasks. While RNNs demonstrated favourable performance for Land Cover (LC) change analyses, few studies have explored or quantified the geospatial data characteristics required to utilize this method. Likewise, many studies utilize overall measures of accuracy rather than metrics accounting for the slow or sparse changes of LC that are typically observed. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of LSTM models for forecasting LC changes by conducting a sensitivity analysis involving hypothetical and real-world datasets. The intent of this assessment is to explore the implications of varying temporal resolutions and LC classes. Additionally, changing these input data characteristics impacts the number of timesteps and LC change rates provided to the respective models. Kappa variants are selected to explore the capacity of LSTM models for forecasting transitions or persistence of LC. Results demonstrate the adverse effects of coarser temporal resolutions and high LC class cardinality on method performance, despite method optimization techniques applied. This study suggests various characteristics of geospatial datasets that should be present before considering LSTM methods for LC change forecasting.

Keywords: sensitivity analysis; recurrent neural networks; long short-term memory; deep learning; land cover change modelling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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