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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) with a geometric resolution of 10m on a pan-European basis. A multitude of optical and SAR imagery is used, covering a prolonged time series of 7 years, which aim at capturing the intra-annual dynamics as much as possible within a given area and lead to one image composite per season (each season covered by 3 months) and year during the observation period.
The European Urban Atlas provides reliable, inter-comparable, high-resolution land use maps for over 300 Large Urban Zones and their surroundings (more than 100.000 inhabitants as defined by the Urban Audit) for the 2006 reference year in EU member states and for about 800 Functional Urban Area (FUA) and their surroundings (more than 50.000 inhabitants) for the 2012 and 2018 reference year in EEA39. Two additional layers were produced starting from the 2012 reference year: 1) Street Tree Layer within selected FUAs (depending on availability and suitability of satellite imagery) and 2) Building Heights for core urban areas of selected cities in EEA39. The first change layers were produced in 2012.
The high resolution forest product 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. NEW for 2018: the 10m 2018 reference year FTY product now also has the agricultural/urban trees removed. In the past this was done only for the 100m product, now it is consistently applied for both the 10m and the 100m FTY products. Change layers The forest change products are new, and comprise a) TCDC: a simple tree cover density change product for 2012-2015 (% increase or decrease of real TCD changes). For the 2015-2018 mapping, the change layer is instead only masking loss and new tree cover. b) experimental complex dominant leaf type change product (DLTC), mapping different types of dominant leaf type changes (not yet available online).
The imperviousness products capture the percentage and change of soil sealing. Sealed/Impervious areas are characterized by the substitution of the original (semi-) natural land cover or water surface with an artificial, often impervious cover. These artificial surfaces are usually maintained over long periods of time. The imperviousness HRL captures the spatial distribution of artificially sealed areas, including the level of sealing of the soil per area unit. The level of sealed soil (imperviousness degree 1-100%) is produced using a semi-automated classification, based on calibrated NDVI. Imperviousness data is available for the reference years 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018, and contains two types of products: 1. Status layers Imperviousness Density (IMD) The percentage of sealed area is mapped for each status layer for any of the 5 reference years (e.g. degree of Imperviousness 2012). The status layers are available in 10m spatial resolution (2018), 20m spatial resolution (2006-2015), and as aggregated 100m products. Impervious Built-up (IBU) This product shows built-up areas, the part of the sealed surfaces where buildings can be found. Built-up areas are a sub-group of the sealed areas. It refers to areas where above-ground building constructions can be found. In contrast to the Imperviousness characterized by a continuous range of imperviousness measurements, built-up in the HRL 2018 is a binary product, expressed as built-up or non-built-up areas. This product is new for the 2018 mapping campaign and is available in 10 meter resolution, as well as a 100 meter aggregated version called Share of Built-up (SBU) 2. Change layers Two types of change products are available for each of the 3-year periods between the 5 reference years (2006-2009, 2009-2012, 2012-2015, 2015-2018), and in addition, for the period 2006-2012 (that is in line with the 6-year period between two Corine Land Cover products): a) A simple layer mapping the percentage of sealing increase or decrease for those pixels that show real sealing change in the period covered. This product is available in 20m and 100m pixel size. b) A classified change product that maps the most relevant categories of sealing change (unchanged no sealing, new cover, loss of cover, unchanged sealed, increased sealing, decreased sealing). This product is available in 20m pixel size only.
The map shows the percentage of NUTS3 regions covered by high an very high fragmentation pressure classes. Fragmentation pressure classes express the number of meshes per 1000 km2.
Fragmentation pressure from urban and transport infrastructure expansion in rural areas (see map) in the EU Member States. The chart shows the area distribution of fragmentation pressure classes in proportion of each country's rural area.
The map shows the correspondence between fragmentation pressure from urban expansion and traffic infrastructure and population density in Europe.
Map simply shows areas with / without a CCIV (by colour), and which countries did not respond to the survey (stippled colours).
Map shows which countries have a NAS and those with both a NAS and a NAP. Also shows countries which have neither a NAS nor a NAP, plus countries which did not respond to the survey (stippled colours).
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/find/global or scan the QR code.
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