scienceindicators

Landcover / Landuse

Distinguishes between the physical land type (cover) and its human purpose (use), foundational for environmental planning.

unit

Land cover classification labels and percentage coverage for each class⁠

historic data availability

5 yrs

description

Provides a classification of the physical surface of the land (land cover, e.g., forest, wetland, urban) and the human activities taking place on it (land use, e.g., agriculture, conservation, residential). This foundational data is essential for a wide range of applications, including urban planning, natural resource management, and environmental monitoring, as it provides the context for understanding human-environment interactions.

methodology

Uses an in-house AI model that has been trained on high-resolution, high-frequency optical and radar satellite observations (Sentinel 1, Sentinel 2) to generate precise, annual land-cover maps at 10m spatial resolution.