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Data details

Name Land Use and Coverage Area frame Survey (LUCAS)
Note The Land Use and Coverage Area frame Survey, abbreviated as LUCAS, is a European field survey program funded and executed by Eurostat. Its objective is to set up area frame surveys for the provision of coherent and harmonised statistics on land use and land cover in the European Union (EU). In addition, it is to provide information on agriculture, the environment, landscapes and sustainable development, ground evidence for calibration of satellite images and a register of points for specific surveys (such as soil, biodiversity etc.) and for the core European in-situ data collection network. Land cover and land use are of high importance in the definition and evaluation of common agricultural and environment policies. source: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Glossary:Land_use/cover_area_frame_survey_(LUCAS)
Update Frequency Periodic Update
Area EU member states
Temporal -
Timeliness Latest version available
Data Policy Freely accessible
Data type Observation
Copernicus service product
Data format Vector dataset
Quality Control Procedure Automatic
Dissemination View and Download Service
Inspire themes

Annex II: Land cover
Geographical Coverage

Multiple Countries /Not a specific country
Status -
State Draft
Created on Dec. 6, 2017, 10:18 a.m.
Last modified on Feb. 21, 2023, 11:36 a.m.

Data Providers

Data provider Role Is network Created on Last modified on
EUROSTAT Distributor Dec. 6, 2017, 10:18 a.m. Feb. 21, 2023, 11:36 a.m.

Requirements

Requirement Level of compliace Note Information costs Handling costs Created on Last modified on
Land Cover - Forest Partially Sampling grid of 2x2 km does not fully capture local landscape heterogenities that would be appreciated for product generation. Dec. 6, 2017, 10:18 a.m. Feb. 21, 2023, 11:36 a.m.
Land Cover - Water Partially Land Use/Cover Area Frame Statistical Survey (LUCAS) field survey data including photographs from visited points are helpful for product generation and validation. Due to insufficient coverage (only EU27) and limited timeliness only partially compliant. Dec. 6, 2017, 10:18 a.m. Feb. 21, 2023, 11:36 a.m.
Land Cover Partially The Land Use/Cover Area Statistical Frame Survey (LUCAS) is used as additional source for a more accurate differentiation between cropland and grassland; unsufficient coverage and timeliness is an issue. The LUCAS sampling grid requires densification to be used for calibration and validation at scales of 1:5000 - 1:10000. Dec. 6, 2017, 10:18 a.m. Feb. 21, 2023, 11:36 a.m.
Orthoimagery - Very High Resolution Partially Regular grid of Land Use/Cover Area Frame Statistical Survey (LUCAS) Ground Control Points (GCPs), providing coherent and harmonised statistics on land use and land cover in the European Union via regularly updated ortho-photos; due to unsufficient coverage in a Pan-European context only partially compliant. Dec. 6, 2017, 10:18 a.m. Feb. 21, 2023, 11:36 a.m.
Land Use Partially Sampling grid does not fully capture local land use heterogenities. Update frequency 3 years. Coverage: EU Dec. 6, 2017, 10:18 a.m. Feb. 21, 2023, 11:36 a.m.
Land Cover Partially Suitable information on Land Cover/Land Use (LC/LU) for most European regions; additional information on regional characteristics, p.e. for mediterranean or far northern areas still lacking, therefore only partially compliant. Low update frequency. Dec. 6, 2017, 10:18 a.m. Feb. 21, 2023, 11:36 a.m.
Land Cover - Grassland Partially Sampling grid of 2x2 km does not fully capture local landscape heterogenities which would be appreciated for product generation. Dec. 6, 2017, 10:18 a.m. Feb. 21, 2023, 11:36 a.m.