DLR Global Urban Footprint (GUF)
Quick answer: DLR GUF provides a global 12m resolution built-up area mask from TanDEM-X radar, offering the finest free global urban classification.
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Format
GeoTIFF
Geometry
Raster (urban mask)
Coverage
Global
Resolution
~12m
About this dataset
German Aerospace Center's global settlement mask at ~12m resolution derived from TanDEM-X radar data.
The Global Urban Footprint (GUF) from DLR provides a global binary settlement/non-settlement mask at ~12m resolution derived from TanDEM-X radar satellite data. It distinguishes built-up areas from non-built-up surfaces using radar backscatter characteristics, offering one of the finest freely available global urban extent datasets.
Download steps from this dataset’s GeoDataViewer guide. Follow the original provider for current files and access requirements.
How to download
- 1 Register on the DLR Geoservice portal.
- 2 Select the Global Urban Footprint product.
- 3 Choose the region and download 12m GeoTIFF tiles.
- 4 Open in GIS for urban extent analysis.
FAQ
How does GUF compare to WSF?
GUF uses TanDEM-X radar data at ~12m resolution, while WSF uses Sentinel-1/2 at 10m. Both provide binary built-up masks, but GUF is based on radar (works in cloudy conditions) while WSF combines optical and radar.
Is GUF data still current?
The primary GUF dataset is based on TanDEM-X acquisitions from 2011-2012. An updated GUF-DLR product with more recent data is being developed.