Databases of Copernicus Land Monitoring Services

You can read more about our European land monitoring activities and related projects here.

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The Copernicus Earth Observation Program is a European system for monitoring the Earth’s surface. Data is collected by various sources, including Earth observation satellites (space segment) and so-called in-situ sensors (ground segment). The user segment (services) provides information using the above data in six thematic areas:

  • land,
  • marine,
  • atmosphere,
  • climate change,
  • emergency management,
  • security.


Land monitoring is divided into four main components:

  • Global component: Global Land Service provides a series of bio-geophysical products on the status and evolution of the land surface at a global scale at mid and low spatial resolution.
     
  • Pan-European component: Pan-European component provides information about the land cover and land use (LC/LU), land cover and land use changes and land cover characteristics.

  • Local component: Local component focuses on different hotspots, i.e. areas that are prone to specific environmental challenges and problems. This component monitors major European cities (Urban Atlas), surrounding area of European major rivers (Riparian Zones) and detailed land cover/land use data of NATURA 2000 areas.

  • In-situ component: Access to in-situ data is important for all Copernicus services, because it ensures calibration, control and efficient use of remote sensing data. In addition to the high-resolution national data provided by the participating countries, in-situ data also includes reference data obtained by (space) remote sensing, such as the 25-metre  digital surface model (EU-DEM), the European Hydrological Database (EU-Hydro) and their derived products. This component currently includes the EUROSTAT LUCAS survey.

     


The above listed databases are available in European coordinate reference system (ETRS1989-LAEA) on the Copernicus program website.  Detailed technical documentation of the databases can be found in the Technical library menu. Land cover databases for the Hungarian territory in a national projection (EOV) are available via links at the bottom of the page.

 

Detailed description of databases

Out of the four listed components (considering the thematic data content and spatial resolution of the databases), the pan-European and local components are presented in detail below. The listed databases are being validated at European level.

 

Pan-European component

The Pan-European component, coordinated by the European Environment Agency (EEA), includes satellite mosaics and databases providing land cover and land use information (CORINE Land Cover, High Resolution Layers). As a “related pan-European product” the European Settlement Map also falls into this category.

 

Satellite image mosaics

Satellite image mosaics are available as a WMS service via Copernicus program website:

  • High resolution (HR: 10-30m) satellite imagery: It serves as input for the creation of many Copernicus products and services. Having all the satellite imagery available to cover 39 countries of EEA (LANDSAT-7, SPOT-4/5, IRS, RapidEye images), provided the opportunity to process the individual image scenes into a seamless pan-European ortho-rectified mosaic. Time series of High Resolution Image Mosaics consists of five elements: Image 2006, Image 2009, Image 2012, Image 2015 and Image 2018.
     
  • Very High Resolution (VHR: 2.5m) satellite imagery: The acquisition window of the imagery is January 2011 to December 2013. Images are derived from SPOT-5, SPOT-6 and FORMOSAT-2 satellite sensors. The mosaic provides coverage with a spatial resolution of 2.5 meters across Europe.


Land cover data

  • CORINE Land Cover: The CORINE Land Cover (CLC) database is produced for reference years of 1990, 2000, 2006, 2012 and 2018. Besides the status layers, the time series also includes change layers, which indicate changes in land cover and land use. This vector-based dataset includes 44 land cover and land use classes.The Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU) for status databases is 25 ha, while for change databases is 5 ha. The vector databases, containing 44 land cover and land use classes, were created by visual interpretation of high-resolution satellite imagery using national in-situ data and orthophotos. Full nationwide coverage is available. IMPORTANT: data on land cover changes between two dates must always be calculated / extracted from the change layers (not from the difference between the status layers)!
     
  • High Resolution Layers, HRL: The High Resolution Layers are 20m spatial resolution (latest products 10m and 5m) raster-based datasets, that provide information on different land cover categories. The five HRLs were prepared for the following main land cover types: artificial surfaces (Imperviousness), forest areas (Tree Cover Density and Dominant Leaf Type, Forest Type), Grasslands, Water & Wetlands and Small Woody Features. Full nationwide coverage is available.
     
    • Imperviousness:. The imperviousness HRL captures the spatial distribution of artificially sealed areas, including the level of sealing of the soil per area unit (imperviousness degree 1-100%). Imperviousness data is available for the reference years 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018, and contains two types of products: status layers and change layers. The status layers consists of 2 types of products: Imperviousness Density (IMD) the percentage of sealed area is mapped for each status layer. Impervious Built-up (IBU), this product shows built-up areas, the part of the sealed surfaces where buildings can be found. The status layers are available in 10m spatial resolution (2018), 20m spatial resolution (2006-2015), and as aggregated 100m products.
       
    • Forests: The HRL Forests consists of 3 types of (status) products, and additional change products. The status products are available for 2012, 2015, and 2018 reference years: Tree cover density (TCD) (level of tree cover density in a range from 0-100%), Dominant leaf type (DLT) (broadleaved or coniferous majority), A Forest type product (FTY). The forest type product allows to get as close as possible to the FAO forest definition. In its original (10m (2018) / 20m (2012, 2015)) resolution it consists of two products: 1) a dominant leaf type product that has a MMU of 0.5 ha, as well as a 10% tree cover density threshold applied, and 2) a support layer that maps, based on the dominant leaf type product, trees under agricultural use and in urban context (derived from CLC and imperviousness 2009 data). For the final 100m product trees under agricultural use and urban context from the support layer are removed.
       
    • Grassland: The main product is a binary grassland/non-grassland product in 10m (2018) / 20m (2015) pixels size, that includes the full spectrum of grassland use intensity (from natural to managed grasslands). 4 types of products are available: Grassland (GRA): binary status layer mapping grassland and all non-grassland areas in 10m (2018) / 20m (2015) and (aggregated) 100m pixel size. Grassland Vegetation Probability Index (GRAVPI): mapping on a range of 1-100 the class probability. Ploughing indicator (PLOUGH): mapping from 1-6 the number of years since the last indication of ploughing. Grassland change 2015-2018 (GRAC1518), which distinguishes new grassland, loss of grassland, as well as unverified losses and gains.
       
    • Water & Wetness: The combined Water and Wetness product is a thematic product showing the occurrence of water and wet surfaces over the period from 2009 to 2018. These layers are based on multi-temporal and multi-seasonal optical high-resolution satellite imagery. In addition, these layers are also based on radar information (Sentinel-1 data). A multitude of optical and SAR imagery is used, covering a prolonged time series of 7 years, which aims at capturing the intra-annual dynamics as much as possible within a given area and leads to one image composite per season (each season covered by 3 months) and year during the observation period.The main Water and Wetness (WAW) product with defined classes of (1) permanent water, (2) temporary water, (3) permanent wetness and (4) temporary wetness. The additional expert product: Water & Wetness Probability Index (WWPI).
       
    • Small Woody Features (SWF): The HRL Small Woody Features (SWF) is a new CLMS product, which provides harmonized information on linear structures such as hedgerows, as well as patches (200 m² ≤ area ≤ 5000 m²) of wooded features across the EEA39 countries. The dataset is available for the 2015 reference year and is produced in three different formats: SWF vector layer. Separates the SWF class into 1: Linear & 2: Patchy. 3: Additional Woody Features. SWF 5m spatial resolution raster layer. Only separates between 1: SWF & 3: AWF. SWF 100m spatial resolution raster aggregate layers.

 

Related Pan-European products

  • European Settlement Map: The European Settlement Map is a spatial raster dataset that is mapping human settlements in Europe based on SPOT5 and SPOT6 satellite imagery. Represents the percentage of built-up area coverage per spatial unit (100*100 m). It has been produced with GHSL (Global Human Settlement Layer) technology, uses machine learning techniques in order to understand systematic relations between morphological and textural (pantex) features, extracted from the multispectral and panchromatic (if available) bands, describing the human settlement. Available reference years: 2012 and 2015, downloadable via Copernicus program website.

 

Local component

The local component is coordinated by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and aims to provide specific and more detailed information that is complementary to the information obtained through the Pan-European component. The local component focuses on different hotspots, i.e. areas that are prone to specific environmental challenges and problems. It will be based on very high resolution imagery (2,5 x 2,5 m pixels) in combination with other available datasets (high and medium resolution images) over the pan-European area. Consists of 4 land cover databases: Urban Atlas, Riparian Zones, Natura 2000, Coastal Zones.

  • Urban Atlas: The Urban Atlas provides pan-European comparable land cover and land use data for Functional Urban Areas (FUA). For reference year 2006 the number of mapped urban areas were 305 (population > 100 000), while for reference year 2012 the number of mapped urban areas were 695 (population > 50 000). The nomenclature includes 17 urban classes with MMU 0.25 ha and 10 Rural Classes with MMU 1ha Urban Atlas 2018 is under process, the full dataset, when completed, will cover 788 FUAs covering EU27 + EFTA countries + West Balkans + Turkey + UK. Besides 3 status layers for reference years 2006, 2012 and 2018, change products are also available for 2006-2012 and 2012-2018. In 2012, an additional layer, Street Tree Layer (STL) was produced for a selection of FUAs as well as a building height dataset  (Building Height 2012) covering currently the capital cities. Street Tree Layer (STL) database also available for reference year 2018.
     
  • Riparian Zones, RZ: Riparian zones represent transitional areas occurring between land and freshwater ecosystems, characterised by distinctive hydrology, soil and biotic conditions and strongly influenced by the stream water. They provide a wide range of riparian functions (e.g. chemical filtration, flood control, bank stabilization, aquatic life and riparian wildlife support, etc.) and ecosystem services. The Riparian Zones products support the objectives of several European legal acts and policy initiatives, such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, the Habitats and Birds Directives and the Water Framework Directive. Three complementary product groups provide detailed information on the state and characteristics of riparian zones across the EEA member and cooperating countries.
     
    • The Land Cover/Land Use (LC/LU) classification is tailored to the needs of biodiversity monitoring in a variable buffer zone of selected rivers (Strahler levels 2-9 derived from EU-Hydro). LC/LU is extracted from VHR satellite data and other available data in a buffer zone of selected rivers for supporting biodiversity monitoring and mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services. The classes follow the pre-defined nomenclature on the basis of MAES typology of ecosystems (Level 1 to Level 4) and Corine Land Cover providing 56 distinct thematic classes with a Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU) of 0.5 ha and a Minimum Mapping Width (MMW) of 10 m. Database available for reference year 2012.
       
    • Delineation of Riparian Zones: The delineation of Riparian Zones is based on a complex spatial modelling approach, making use of the Riparian Zones’ LC/LU classification, large-scale earth observation data and a range of additional geo-data sources, as well as derived spatially explicit indicators. Inputs are regionally parameterised and weighted according to relative importance in a fuzzy modelling approach. The zones provide a majority of riparian functions with a focus on ecosystem services.
       
    • Green Linear Elements, GLE: Green Linear Elements (GLE) are ecologically significant, structural landscape elements which act as important dispersion vectors of biodiversity. The GLE product provides reliable and detailed geospatial information on the occurrence and spatial distribution of: Small linear vegetation features such as hedgerows, scrub and tree rows with a minimum length of 100m and a width of up to 10m; Isolated patches of trees and scrub with a size between 500 m² and 0.5 ha. Green linear elements including trees and hedgerows with 100m minimum length and 500 m² Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU).
       
  • NATURA 2000 (N2K) land covers: Natura 2000 is an ecological network in the territory of the European Union, this is the core of its nature conservation and biodiversity policy. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Birds Directive.  Reference years are 2006 and 2012, along with their change analysis in addition. In the course of mapping a 2 km wide buffer zone was marked around the areas, where the external effects and risks were detected. The nomenclature is compatible with the CLC, UA and RZ databases and contains 62 categories (MMU 0.5ha; MMW 10m).
     
  • Coastal Zones: In 2019 the EEA launched the implementation of a new thematic hotspot product to monitor landscape dynamics in coastal zones. The new products will cover all European coastal territory to an inland depth of 10 km with a total area of approximately 730,000 km². The products will have a minimum mapping unit of 0.5 ha and record around 60 LC/LU classes. The justification for monitoring LC/LU dynamics in coastal zones is in the need to coordinate an economic growth that maintains a resilient state of the coastal environment, safeguarding coastal protection and the basis for human wellbeing. The initial production of the Coastal Zone hotspot thematic mapping will consist of: a LC/LU status layer for 2012, a LC/LU change layer between 2012 and 2018, and a LC/LU status layer for 2018.

 

Downloadable databases

The following databases are available to download free of charge, covering the territory of Hungary, in national (EOV) projection (in ESRI shape file format or in GeoTiff format):

  • European CORINE Land Cover databases
    • CLC 2018 and CLC2012-2018 changes
    • CLC 2012 and CLC2006-2012 changes
    • CLC 2006 and CLC2000-2006 changes
    • CLC 2000 and CLC1990-2000 changes
    • CLC 1990
  • National HRS CORINE Land Cover Data (CLC50)
  • High Resolution Layers
      • Imperviousness 2012 és 2015
      • Forests 2012 és 2015
      • Grassland 2015
      • Water and Wetland 2012 és 2015
  • Urban Atlas
      • Urban Atlas 2006
      • Urban Atlas 2012
  • Riparian Zones (2012)
      • Land cover and land use maps
      • Impondment of riparian zones (DRZP, DRZO, DRZA)
      • Green Linear Elements
  • NATURA 2000 (N2K) land covers
      • N2K 2006
      • N2K 2012

Downloadable ZIP files contain databases and additionally include metadata in Hungarian (.xml), terminology (.xlsx), legend files (.lyr), specification in English (.pdf). (For high resolution layers, reference year 2015, only English documentation is available on the page below.)

Databases are free of charge, free to download and to use after quoting the source, liability declaration and represent Copernicus program and EU logo.

 

© Data was produced with funding by the European Union. Copyright Copernicus Programme.

DISCLAIMER: Lechner Knowledge Centre Regional, Architectural and IT Non-profit Ltd. has undertaken to distribute the data on behalf of EEA under Specific Contract No 3436/R0-Copernicus/EEA.56947 implementing Framework service contract No EEA/IDM/R0/16/009/Hungary. Lechner Knowledge Centre Regional, Architectural and IT Non-profit Ltd. accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to the content and use of these data.

The European Environment Agency accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to the information on this site and the information does notnecessarily reflect the official opinion of the EEA or other European Communities bodies and institutions.

 

 

 

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