Prior to classification, field visits have been made to explore and record some existing features in the study area
using handheld GPS (GARMIN 76CSx). Information on ground features corresponding to some known locations is required
during classification of satellite image as well as for verification of the prepared map. The ground sample points are
chosen in such a way that they are homogenous in nature, large enough to be representative of major variability of the
selected classes observed in the image [25]. Ground information pertaining to 60 randomly collected locations is used for
image classification and information pertaining to other 60 locations is used for verification of the classified map. From
the field visits it is observed that croplands of the selected site are used only for winter rice cultivation.