GeoTIFF (COG) / WMTS
ESA WorldCover
Global 10m land cover in 11 classes (2020 and 2021 versions), streamed live through Terrascope WMTS with AWS COG downloads for full analysis.
Land-cover maps Raster overlays
Land cover
Land Cover & Land Use
Global land cover and land use datasets such as ESA WorldCover for thematic mapping and analysis.
Quick answer: compare official sources, download formats, coverage, licensing, and practical GIS workflows in this Land cover directory.
ESA WorldCover 10m WMS GeoTIFF
Downloadable datasets in this category
9
Each dataset page captures official source links, access notes, and related GIS workflows.
Official sources and direct access
Mixed delivery
Find provider portals, available file downloads and instructions for accessing each source.
Spatial data guidance
Choose a source
Compare geographic coverage, file formats and reuse terms before choosing data for your map or analysis.
Land-cover pages are written for users looking for 10m to 30m classification rasters, not just raw catalog listings.
The category explains how to access service endpoints and static downloads, which improves usefulness for both traditional and AI search.
Downloadable datasets in this category
Category directory
Open a dataset guide for source links, download steps and practical answers about working with the files.
GeoTIFF / Shapefile (WMS preview)
CORINE Land Cover
European land cover and land use classification at 100m resolution from the Copernicus program.
European land use mapping Urban planning analysis
Raster classification
United States land cover at 30m resolution with consistent classification for change analysis.
US land cover mapping Urbanization analysis
HDF / GeoTIFF / WMTS
MODIS Land Cover (MCD12Q1)
Global annual land cover classification at 500m resolution from NASA MODIS satellite data.
Global land cover change Vegetation monitoring
GeoTIFF
Global Forest Watch (Hansen)
Global forest change, loss, gain, and extent data at 30m resolution from the University of Maryland.
Deforestation monitoring Forest extent mapping
GeoTIFF / COG
Google Dynamic World
Near real-time 10m global land cover classification powered by Sentinel-2 imagery and Google Earth Engine, updated every few days.
Near real-time land cover monitoring Deforestation detection
GeoTIFF
GLC_FCS30 (全球30m精细土地覆盖)
Global 30m fine land cover classification produced by the Chinese Academy of Sciences using time-series Landsat imagery, covering 35+ land cover types.
Fine-scale land cover mapping Agricultural monitoring
GeoTIFF
ESA GlobCover 2009
Historical 300m global land cover map from ESA MERIS imagery, useful as a baseline for land cover change analysis.
Historical land cover change analysis Baseline comparison studies
GeoJSON / Parquet
Overture Maps Base
Global base geographic layer from Overture Maps including land use, water bodies, natural features, and built-up areas.
Land use mapping Urban planning
Recommended land-cover workflow
How to choose a source
- Use ESA WorldCover when you need a globally consistent 10m land-cover layer.
- Start with WMS or WMTS for quick inspection, then move to downloadable rasters for analysis.
- Combine land-cover rasters with elevation and administrative boundaries for storytelling maps.
Category FAQ
Category FAQ
What is a good free global land-cover dataset?
ESA WorldCover is one of the best-known free global options because it offers 10m classes and service endpoints that are straightforward to inspect.
Is land cover the same as land use?
Not exactly. Land cover usually describes observed surface classes, while land use is more about human activity or planning context.