AI-generated Key Takeaways
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The Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) dataset provides a 10-meter resolution view of human settlements, characterizing them by function and building height.
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This dataset from the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) covers the year 2018 and is derived from Sentinel-2 imagery and other GHSL data.
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Settlement characteristics are categorized into open spaces (vegetation, water, roads) and built spaces (residential and non-residential) with building height classifications.
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The GHSL dataset is open and free to use with proper attribution, as detailed in the European Commission Reuse and Copyright Notice.
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Users can explore and analyze this dataset using Google Earth Engine, a cloud-based platform for geospatial data.
- Dataset Availability
- 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z–2018-12-31T00:00:00Z
- Dataset Provider
- EC JRC
- Tags
Description
This spatial raster dataset delineates human settlements at 10 m resolution, and describes their inner characteristics in terms of the functional and height-related components of the built environment.
More information about the GHSL data products can be found in the GHSL Data Package 2023 report
The Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) project is supported by the European Commission, Joint Research Centre, and Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy.
Bands
Pixel Size
10 meters
Bands
| Name | Pixel Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
built_characteristics |
meters | Settlement characteristics |
built_characteristics Class Table
| Value | Color | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | #718c6c | open spaces, low vegetation surfaces |
| 2 | #8ad86b | open spaces, medium vegetation surfaces |
| 3 | #c1ffa1 | open spaces, high vegetation surfaces |
| 4 | #01b7ff | open spaces, water surfaces |
| 5 | #ffd501 | open spaces, road surfaces |
| 11 | #d28200 | built spaces, residential, building height <= 3m |
| 12 | #fe5900 | built spaces, residential, 3m < building height <= 6m |
| 13 | #ff0101 | built spaces, residential, 6m < building height <= 15m |
| 14 | #ce001b | built spaces, residential, 15m < building height <= 30m |
| 15 | #7a000a | built spaces, residential, building height > 30m |
| 21 | #ff9ff4 | built spaces, non-residential, building height <= 3m |
| 22 | #ff67e4 | built spaces, non-residential, 3m < building height <= 6m |
| 23 | #f701ff | built spaces, non-residential, 6m < building height <= 15m |
| 24 | #a601ff | built spaces, non-residential, 15m < building height <= 30m |
| 25 | #6e00fe | built spaces, non-residential, building height > 30m |
Terms of Use
Terms of Use
The GHSL has been produced by the European Commission Joint Research Centre as open and free data. Reuse is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged. For more information, please read the use conditions (European Commission Reuse and Copyright Notice).
Citations
Dataset : Pesaresi, Martino; Politis, Panagiotis (2023): GHS-BUILT-C R2023A - GHS Settlement Characteristics, derived from Sentinel2 composite (2018) and other GHS R2023A data. European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) PID: http://data.europa.eu/89h/3c60ddf6-0586-4190-854b-f6aa0edc2a30 doi:10.2905/3c60ddf6-0586-4190-854b-f6aa0edc2a30
Methodology : Pesaresi, Martino, Marcello Schiavina, Panagiotis Politis, Sergio Freire, Katarzyna Krasnodebska, Johannes H. Uhl, Alessandra Carioli, et al. (2024). Advances on the Global Human Settlement Layer by Joint Assessment of Earth Observation and Population Survey Data. International Journal of Digital Earth 17(1). doi:10.1080/17538947.2024.2390454.
DOIs
Explore with Earth Engine
Code Editor (JavaScript)
var image = ee.Image("JRC/GHSL/P2023A/GHS_BUILT_C/2018"); var built = image.select('built_characteristics'); Map.setCenter(77.58, 12.97, 13); Map.addLayer(built, {}, 'Settlement_characteristics (2018)');