In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk about the latest release of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD). More than just a map, NLCD is a stack of maps—a database. It has long been the foundational land cover source for scientists, resource managers, and decision-makers across the United States, and now the next generation of USGS land cover mapping is here.
Annual National Land Cover Database
Active
By Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
September 26, 2024
About Annual NLCD
Product Suite
Data Access
Reference and Validation
Science Product User Guide
Land cover is foundational information for land managers, scientists, and the general public. Many types of scientific studies have applied annual land cover information including estimating biological carbon emissions, projecting future land use, tracking urban development and heat island effects, documenting forest fragmentation or conservation practices, modeling wildfire hazards, tracking water quality and quantity, and understanding change in wildlife habitat and ecosystem disturbance/disease.
Annual NLCD Product Suite
Annual NLCD Product Suite
Annual NLCD offers a suite of six annual land use and land cover change in the conterminous United States. Annual NLCD Collection 1.0 is available in Fall 2024.
Data Access
Data Access
Annual NLCD Science Products will be available for download from a variety of data download portals.
Science Product User Guide
Science Product User Guide
Science Product User Guide (SPUG) provides in-depth information on Annual NLCD products and methods and is available for download.
The Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has harnessed the full Landsat data record to provide timely, long-term, and detailed land surface change information. Annual NLCD uses an ensemble of classification and change algorithms to map, monitor, and synthesize the complexities of land use, cover, and condition change through time. The Annual NLCD product suite offers data that describe nationwide land cover and land change over nearly four decades. A new generation of USGS Land Cover mapping, introduced in the Annual NLCD Collection 1 release, leverages advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques and runs within high-performance computing and cloud processing environments.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
About Annual NLCD
About Annual NLCD
Annual NLCD is a new generation of land cover mapping that offers annual land cover and land change science products nationwide with nearly four decades of data. Click on the link below to learn more about Annual NLCD.
Annual NLCD Science Products
Annual NLCD Science Products
Annual NLCD project has generated a product suite of six geospatial raster land use and land cover science products for the conterminous United States ranging from 1985-2023. There will be annual release of NLCD science products. Check out the Science Product User Guide for in-depth information about Annual NLCD.
Data Access
Data Access
A suite of six annual integrated land cover and land surface change products are available for the conterminous United States. Products for Alaska and Hawaii are planned. The product suite provides powerful time-series information at a 30-m spatial resolution about annual land cover and its change across time. Products can be accessed via the data access page.
Reference and Validation
Reference and Validation
Validation of land cover and land cover change information is essential for providing authoritative products to our user community. Validation reports provide estimates of the accuracies and uncertainties of the NLCD land cover products and are derived from well-documented independent reference data. Processing flows, product specifications, uncertainties and known issues are published in validation reports to ensure consistency. See the Reference and Validation products page for more information.
Science Product User Guide
Science Product User Guide
Additional information on Annual NLCD and Annual NLCD science products can be found in the Science User Product Guide. The Science User Product Guide contains in-depth information about Annual NLCD including characteristics of the science products, algorithm description, and accuracy assessment.
Citation
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 2024, Annual NLCD Collection 1 Science Products: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P94UXNTS
USGS EROS Facebook
USGS EROS Facebook
USGS EROS Instagram
USGS EROS Instagram
USGS EROS X (Twitter)
USGS EROS X (Twitter)
USGS Land Cover Newsletter
USGS Land Cover Newsletter
These are related science efforts related to Annual NLCD.
Eyes on Earth Episode 126 – Annual NLCD
The next generation of USGS land cover mapping is here. Annual NLCD provides land cover data of the U.S. every year back to 1985.
Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2
The next step for two strong land cover products at USGS EROS is to combine them to create something even better.
Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1
USGS EROS contributed to a better understanding of the Earth’s surface by leading early land cover mapping efforts.
LCMAP and NLCD: Complementary Data for Understanding the Geography of the United States
Land Change Monitoring, Assessment, and Projection (LCMAP) Collection 1 science products provide unprecedented monitoring of past changes occurring in land cover and condition across the conterminous U.S. over more than 30 years at an annual timestep.
The New Annual (1985-2023) National Land Cover Database: Improving on a 30-Year Legacy
This video is a recording of a previous webinar entitled: “The New Annual (1985-2023) National Land Cover Database: Improving on a 30-year Legacy.” This webinar was recorded on October 24, 2024 at the USGS EROS.
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk about the latest release of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD). More than just a map, NLCD is a stack of maps—a database. It has long been the foundational land cover source for scientists, resource managers, and decision-makers across the United States, and now the next generation of USGS land cover mapping is here.
Annual NLCD Landcover in 1985 Compared to 2023
Zoomed in image of Annual NLCD Land Cover in 1985 compared to the same area in 2023 for Silverdale, WA. Annual NLCD Land Cover science product represents the most likely thematic land cover type of the Anderson Level II classes. Notice the increase in development (shown in red) and the changed in forest in the west.
Zoomed in image of Annual NLCD Land Cover in 1985 compared to the same area in 2023 for Silverdale, WA. Annual NLCD Land Cover science product represents the most likely thematic land cover type of the Anderson Level II classes. Notice the increase in development (shown in red) and the changed in forest in the west.
TimeSync Viewer
Annual NLCD Reference and Validation (R&V) program is in the process of collecting an independent reference dataset of 10,000 plots at the Anderson Level II level. The TimeSync tool is used to record attribute information for each plot. On the interface, the drop in NDVI values is noticeable.
Annual NLCD Reference and Validation (R&V) program is in the process of collecting an independent reference dataset of 10,000 plots at the Anderson Level II level. The TimeSync tool is used to record attribute information for each plot. On the interface, the drop in NDVI values is noticeable.
Annual NLCD Land Cover Confidence Index
Annual NLCD land cover confidence product provides the level of confidence that Annual NLCD land cover class per pixel values that matches the training data. The image shown is around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD land cover confidence product provides the level of confidence that Annual NLCD land cover class per pixel values that matches the training data. The image shown is around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD Spectral Change Day of Year
Depicts the day-of-year (DOY) on which a significant deviation in Landsat surface reflectance was detected within the calendar year of an area around Marysville, WA
Depicts the day-of-year (DOY) on which a significant deviation in Landsat surface reflectance was detected within the calendar year of an area around Marysville, WA
Annual NLCD Land Cover Change Legend
Annual National Land Cover Database (Annual NLCD) land cover legend contains 16 land cover classes based on the Anderson Level II classification system.
Annual National Land Cover Database (Annual NLCD) land cover legend contains 16 land cover classes based on the Anderson Level II classification system.
Annual NLCD Land Cover Change
Annual NLCD land cover change product shows the change between the current year’s primary land cover and the prior year’s land cover when there is a change in primary class. The area shown is around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD land cover change product shows the change between the current year’s primary land cover and the prior year’s land cover when there is a change in primary class. The area shown is around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD Fractional Impervious Surface
Depicts the fractional surface area of the map unit (pixel) that is covered with artificial substrate or structures in an area around Marysville, WA.
Depicts the fractional surface area of the map unit (pixel) that is covered with artificial substrate or structures in an area around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD Impervious Descriptor
The Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) impervious descriptor product generates a raster layer that differentiates between urban and road surfaces. The area depicted is around Marysville, WA
The Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) impervious descriptor product generates a raster layer that differentiates between urban and road surfaces. The area depicted is around Marysville, WA
Annual NLCD Land Cover
Annual NLCD generates a product suite of six land use and land cover themes from 1985-2023. The Annual NLCD Land Cover product Depicts the predominant thematic land cover class within the mapping year with respect to broad categories of artificial or natural surface cover. The image shows an area around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD generates a product suite of six land use and land cover themes from 1985-2023. The Annual NLCD Land Cover product Depicts the predominant thematic land cover class within the mapping year with respect to broad categories of artificial or natural surface cover. The image shows an area around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD Collection 1.0
Annual NLCD Collection 1.0 has six different land cover and land use science product that make up the product suite package. The six different Annual NLCD science products are Land Cover, Land Cover Change, Land Cover Confidence Index, Impervious Descriptor, Fractional Impervious Surface, and Spectral Change Day of Year.
Annual NLCD Collection 1.0 has six different land cover and land use science product that make up the product suite package. The six different Annual NLCD science products are Land Cover, Land Cover Change, Land Cover Confidence Index, Impervious Descriptor, Fractional Impervious Surface, and Spectral Change Day of Year.
An Annual NLCD Land Cover map centered are around Lake Stevens, WA
An Annual NLCD Land Cover map of centered around Lake Stevens, WA depicting 16 land cover classes.
An Annual NLCD Land Cover map of centered around Lake Stevens, WA depicting 16 land cover classes.
Land cover change in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth area from 1985-2023 as shown by Annual NLCD Collection 1.0
linkAn animation of images from the Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) for every year from 1985 through 2023 showing land cover changes and the progression of growth of urban areas (in red) in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, metropolitan area.
Land cover change in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth area from 1985-2023 as shown by Annual NLCD Collection 1.0
linkAn animation of images from the Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) for every year from 1985 through 2023 showing land cover changes and the progression of growth of urban areas (in red) in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, metropolitan area.
Annual NLCD Collection 1.0 (2023) for CONUS
The Annual NLCD product suite offers six different land use and land cover products. The Annual NLCD Land Cover product depicts the predominant thematic land cover of 16 Anderson Level II classes within the current mapping year. The Annual NLCD Land Cover of the conterminous United States shows all Anderson Level II classes.
The Annual NLCD product suite offers six different land use and land cover products. The Annual NLCD Land Cover product depicts the predominant thematic land cover of 16 Anderson Level II classes within the current mapping year. The Annual NLCD Land Cover of the conterminous United States shows all Anderson Level II classes.
Eyes on Earth Episode 113 – EROS Science Leader’s Vision
Terry Sohl helped develop the National Land Cover Database, NLCD, when he first arrived, and now he’s overseeing significant improvements to the widely used product. But that’s just one part of his new role.
Terry Sohl helped develop the National Land Cover Database, NLCD, when he first arrived, and now he’s overseeing significant improvements to the widely used product. But that’s just one part of his new role.
NLCD 2023 Sneak Peek!
Based on Landsat Collection 2, NLCD 2023 will offer annual products from 1985 – 2023. Depicting urban growth for the Atlanta area, this animation shows a single Landsat U.S. ARD tile of Anderson Level II land cover classification generated from the latest prototypes.
Based on Landsat Collection 2, NLCD 2023 will offer annual products from 1985 – 2023. Depicting urban growth for the Atlanta area, this animation shows a single Landsat U.S. ARD tile of Anderson Level II land cover classification generated from the latest prototypes.
30 Years of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD)
30 Years of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD)
The NLCD stands as the definitive land cover database for the United States
30 Years of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD)
The NLCD stands as the definitive land cover database for the United States
Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2
The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has a long history as the definitive U.S. land cover product. But the newer Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) effort takes a longer look back in time.
The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has a long history as the definitive U.S. land cover product. But the newer Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) effort takes a longer look back in time.
Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1
Several decades ago, USGS EROS employees were pioneers in land cover mapping—turning satellite imagery into a record of what covers the land, from farmland to forest to urban areas. National and global datasets with a variety of uses resulted from these efforts.
Several decades ago, USGS EROS employees were pioneers in land cover mapping—turning satellite imagery into a record of what covers the land, from farmland to forest to urban areas. National and global datasets with a variety of uses resulted from these efforts.
News items related to Annual NLCD.
USGS Releases New Products that Map Four Decades of Land Cover Change
RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey today released a newly updated and improved National Land Cover Database, known as Annual NLCD, which offers insights into the changing characteristics of landscapes across the conterminous United States from 1985 to 2023.
Land cover is foundational information for land managers, scientists, and the general public. Many types of scientific studies have applied annual land cover information including estimating biological carbon emissions, projecting future land use, tracking urban development and heat island effects, documenting forest fragmentation or conservation practices, modeling wildfire hazards, tracking water quality and quantity, and understanding change in wildlife habitat and ecosystem disturbance/disease.
Annual NLCD Product Suite
Annual NLCD Product Suite
Annual NLCD offers a suite of six annual land use and land cover change in the conterminous United States. Annual NLCD Collection 1.0 is available in Fall 2024.
Data Access
Data Access
Annual NLCD Science Products will be available for download from a variety of data download portals.
Science Product User Guide
Science Product User Guide
Science Product User Guide (SPUG) provides in-depth information on Annual NLCD products and methods and is available for download.
The Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has harnessed the full Landsat data record to provide timely, long-term, and detailed land surface change information. Annual NLCD uses an ensemble of classification and change algorithms to map, monitor, and synthesize the complexities of land use, cover, and condition change through time. The Annual NLCD product suite offers data that describe nationwide land cover and land change over nearly four decades. A new generation of USGS Land Cover mapping, introduced in the Annual NLCD Collection 1 release, leverages advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques and runs within high-performance computing and cloud processing environments.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
About Annual NLCD
About Annual NLCD
Annual NLCD is a new generation of land cover mapping that offers annual land cover and land change science products nationwide with nearly four decades of data. Click on the link below to learn more about Annual NLCD.
Annual NLCD Science Products
Annual NLCD Science Products
Annual NLCD project has generated a product suite of six geospatial raster land use and land cover science products for the conterminous United States ranging from 1985-2023. There will be annual release of NLCD science products. Check out the Science Product User Guide for in-depth information about Annual NLCD.
Data Access
Data Access
A suite of six annual integrated land cover and land surface change products are available for the conterminous United States. Products for Alaska and Hawaii are planned. The product suite provides powerful time-series information at a 30-m spatial resolution about annual land cover and its change across time. Products can be accessed via the data access page.
Reference and Validation
Reference and Validation
Validation of land cover and land cover change information is essential for providing authoritative products to our user community. Validation reports provide estimates of the accuracies and uncertainties of the NLCD land cover products and are derived from well-documented independent reference data. Processing flows, product specifications, uncertainties and known issues are published in validation reports to ensure consistency. See the Reference and Validation products page for more information.
Science Product User Guide
Science Product User Guide
Additional information on Annual NLCD and Annual NLCD science products can be found in the Science User Product Guide. The Science User Product Guide contains in-depth information about Annual NLCD including characteristics of the science products, algorithm description, and accuracy assessment.
Citation
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 2024, Annual NLCD Collection 1 Science Products: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P94UXNTS
USGS EROS Facebook
USGS EROS Facebook
USGS EROS Instagram
USGS EROS Instagram
USGS EROS X (Twitter)
USGS EROS X (Twitter)
USGS Land Cover Newsletter
USGS Land Cover Newsletter
These are related science efforts related to Annual NLCD.
Eyes on Earth Episode 126 – Annual NLCD
The next generation of USGS land cover mapping is here. Annual NLCD provides land cover data of the U.S. every year back to 1985.
Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2
The next step for two strong land cover products at USGS EROS is to combine them to create something even better.
Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1
USGS EROS contributed to a better understanding of the Earth’s surface by leading early land cover mapping efforts.
LCMAP and NLCD: Complementary Data for Understanding the Geography of the United States
Land Change Monitoring, Assessment, and Projection (LCMAP) Collection 1 science products provide unprecedented monitoring of past changes occurring in land cover and condition across the conterminous U.S. over more than 30 years at an annual timestep.
The New Annual (1985-2023) National Land Cover Database: Improving on a 30-Year Legacy
This video is a recording of a previous webinar entitled: “The New Annual (1985-2023) National Land Cover Database: Improving on a 30-year Legacy.” This webinar was recorded on October 24, 2024 at the USGS EROS.
Eyes on Earth Episode 126 – Annual NLCD
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk about the latest release of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD). More than just a map, NLCD is a stack of maps—a database. It has long been the foundational land cover source for scientists, resource managers, and decision-makers across the United States, and now the next generation of USGS land cover mapping is here.
In this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk about the latest release of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD). More than just a map, NLCD is a stack of maps—a database. It has long been the foundational land cover source for scientists, resource managers, and decision-makers across the United States, and now the next generation of USGS land cover mapping is here.
Annual NLCD Landcover in 1985 Compared to 2023
Zoomed in image of Annual NLCD Land Cover in 1985 compared to the same area in 2023 for Silverdale, WA. Annual NLCD Land Cover science product represents the most likely thematic land cover type of the Anderson Level II classes. Notice the increase in development (shown in red) and the changed in forest in the west.
Zoomed in image of Annual NLCD Land Cover in 1985 compared to the same area in 2023 for Silverdale, WA. Annual NLCD Land Cover science product represents the most likely thematic land cover type of the Anderson Level II classes. Notice the increase in development (shown in red) and the changed in forest in the west.
TimeSync Viewer
Annual NLCD Reference and Validation (R&V) program is in the process of collecting an independent reference dataset of 10,000 plots at the Anderson Level II level. The TimeSync tool is used to record attribute information for each plot. On the interface, the drop in NDVI values is noticeable.
Annual NLCD Reference and Validation (R&V) program is in the process of collecting an independent reference dataset of 10,000 plots at the Anderson Level II level. The TimeSync tool is used to record attribute information for each plot. On the interface, the drop in NDVI values is noticeable.
Annual NLCD Land Cover Confidence Index
Annual NLCD land cover confidence product provides the level of confidence that Annual NLCD land cover class per pixel values that matches the training data. The image shown is around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD land cover confidence product provides the level of confidence that Annual NLCD land cover class per pixel values that matches the training data. The image shown is around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD Spectral Change Day of Year
Depicts the day-of-year (DOY) on which a significant deviation in Landsat surface reflectance was detected within the calendar year of an area around Marysville, WA
Depicts the day-of-year (DOY) on which a significant deviation in Landsat surface reflectance was detected within the calendar year of an area around Marysville, WA
Annual NLCD Land Cover Change Legend
Annual National Land Cover Database (Annual NLCD) land cover legend contains 16 land cover classes based on the Anderson Level II classification system.
Annual National Land Cover Database (Annual NLCD) land cover legend contains 16 land cover classes based on the Anderson Level II classification system.
Annual NLCD Land Cover Change
Annual NLCD land cover change product shows the change between the current year’s primary land cover and the prior year’s land cover when there is a change in primary class. The area shown is around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD land cover change product shows the change between the current year’s primary land cover and the prior year’s land cover when there is a change in primary class. The area shown is around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD Fractional Impervious Surface
Depicts the fractional surface area of the map unit (pixel) that is covered with artificial substrate or structures in an area around Marysville, WA.
Depicts the fractional surface area of the map unit (pixel) that is covered with artificial substrate or structures in an area around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD Impervious Descriptor
The Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) impervious descriptor product generates a raster layer that differentiates between urban and road surfaces. The area depicted is around Marysville, WA
The Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) impervious descriptor product generates a raster layer that differentiates between urban and road surfaces. The area depicted is around Marysville, WA
Annual NLCD Land Cover
Annual NLCD generates a product suite of six land use and land cover themes from 1985-2023. The Annual NLCD Land Cover product Depicts the predominant thematic land cover class within the mapping year with respect to broad categories of artificial or natural surface cover. The image shows an area around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD generates a product suite of six land use and land cover themes from 1985-2023. The Annual NLCD Land Cover product Depicts the predominant thematic land cover class within the mapping year with respect to broad categories of artificial or natural surface cover. The image shows an area around Marysville, WA.
Annual NLCD Collection 1.0
Annual NLCD Collection 1.0 has six different land cover and land use science product that make up the product suite package. The six different Annual NLCD science products are Land Cover, Land Cover Change, Land Cover Confidence Index, Impervious Descriptor, Fractional Impervious Surface, and Spectral Change Day of Year.
Annual NLCD Collection 1.0 has six different land cover and land use science product that make up the product suite package. The six different Annual NLCD science products are Land Cover, Land Cover Change, Land Cover Confidence Index, Impervious Descriptor, Fractional Impervious Surface, and Spectral Change Day of Year.
An Annual NLCD Land Cover map centered are around Lake Stevens, WA
An Annual NLCD Land Cover map of centered around Lake Stevens, WA depicting 16 land cover classes.
An Annual NLCD Land Cover map of centered around Lake Stevens, WA depicting 16 land cover classes.
Land cover change in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth area from 1985-2023 as shown by Annual NLCD Collection 1.0
linkAn animation of images from the Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) for every year from 1985 through 2023 showing land cover changes and the progression of growth of urban areas (in red) in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, metropolitan area.
Land cover change in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth area from 1985-2023 as shown by Annual NLCD Collection 1.0
linkAn animation of images from the Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) for every year from 1985 through 2023 showing land cover changes and the progression of growth of urban areas (in red) in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, metropolitan area.
Annual NLCD Collection 1.0 (2023) for CONUS
The Annual NLCD product suite offers six different land use and land cover products. The Annual NLCD Land Cover product depicts the predominant thematic land cover of 16 Anderson Level II classes within the current mapping year. The Annual NLCD Land Cover of the conterminous United States shows all Anderson Level II classes.
The Annual NLCD product suite offers six different land use and land cover products. The Annual NLCD Land Cover product depicts the predominant thematic land cover of 16 Anderson Level II classes within the current mapping year. The Annual NLCD Land Cover of the conterminous United States shows all Anderson Level II classes.
Eyes on Earth Episode 113 – EROS Science Leader’s Vision
Terry Sohl helped develop the National Land Cover Database, NLCD, when he first arrived, and now he’s overseeing significant improvements to the widely used product. But that’s just one part of his new role.
Terry Sohl helped develop the National Land Cover Database, NLCD, when he first arrived, and now he’s overseeing significant improvements to the widely used product. But that’s just one part of his new role.
NLCD 2023 Sneak Peek!
Based on Landsat Collection 2, NLCD 2023 will offer annual products from 1985 – 2023. Depicting urban growth for the Atlanta area, this animation shows a single Landsat U.S. ARD tile of Anderson Level II land cover classification generated from the latest prototypes.
Based on Landsat Collection 2, NLCD 2023 will offer annual products from 1985 – 2023. Depicting urban growth for the Atlanta area, this animation shows a single Landsat U.S. ARD tile of Anderson Level II land cover classification generated from the latest prototypes.
30 Years of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD)
30 Years of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD)
The NLCD stands as the definitive land cover database for the United States
30 Years of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD)
The NLCD stands as the definitive land cover database for the United States
Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2
The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has a long history as the definitive U.S. land cover product. But the newer Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) effort takes a longer look back in time.
The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has a long history as the definitive U.S. land cover product. But the newer Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) effort takes a longer look back in time.
Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1
Several decades ago, USGS EROS employees were pioneers in land cover mapping—turning satellite imagery into a record of what covers the land, from farmland to forest to urban areas. National and global datasets with a variety of uses resulted from these efforts.
Several decades ago, USGS EROS employees were pioneers in land cover mapping—turning satellite imagery into a record of what covers the land, from farmland to forest to urban areas. National and global datasets with a variety of uses resulted from these efforts.
News items related to Annual NLCD.
USGS Releases New Products that Map Four Decades of Land Cover Change
RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey today released a newly updated and improved National Land Cover Database, known as Annual NLCD, which offers insights into the changing characteristics of landscapes across the conterminous United States from 1985 to 2023.