VITO Remote Sensing

WorldCover is a global land-cover mapping initiative that provides detailed products for users seeking consistent information about the Earth’s land surface. Its first global land-cover products cover 2020 and 2021 and offer a 10-metre resolution. Developed and validated in near real time using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite data, the products establish a new baseline for worldwide land-cover mapping and demonstrate the joint use of these satellite observations.

WorldCover aims to benefit a range of user communities by supporting their work and helping enable the development of new services. Five key end-user groups contributed to the project, providing input across its engineering activities. The product is developed by a consortium of experienced European service providers and research organisations, bringing together expertise across the relevant aspects of land-cover mapping. The consortium also draws on a history of collaboration in European and European Space Agency projects, as well as work connected with the Copernicus Land and Climate Change Service. WorldCover provides information, product access and project updates through its website.