Download Free Land Cover data from Earth Explorer / USGS

Summary

This tutorial guides viewers through downloading land cover data from the USGS Earth Explorer for their area of interest. It covers the process of logging into Earth Explorer, selecting the area of interest, and choosing the appropriate dataset, specifically the NASA LPD MCD12Q1 version 6.1. The tutorial also includes instructions on obtaining necessary login credentials, downloading the data in HDF4 format, and using a GIS software to visualize and reclassify the data according to the user guide provided. The video concludes with tips on customizing the visual representation of different land cover types.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The tutorial demonstrates how to download land cover data from the USGS Earth Explorer for mapping large areas.
• 📊 The data resolution is 500m by 500m, derived from the MODIS Terra satellite.
• 📅 The available data spans from 2001 to 2022, with the file format being HDF4.
• 🔑 A NASA Earth data login account is required for downloading the data.
• 💻 The tutorial guides users through the process of logging into Earth Explorer and selecting an Area of Interest (AOI).
• 🗓️ Users can search for data by year, with the tutorial focusing on data from 2001 to 2022.
• 📚 The NASA LPD WACC collection, specifically the MODIS land cover v6.1, is identified as the dataset for download.
• 🔗 The tutorial provides links to resources such as Earth Explorer and NASA data login, which are included in the video description.
• 🖼️ The data can be visualized and analyzed in GIS software, with the tutorial showing how to add and project the data correctly.
• 🛠️ Reclassification of the data is necessary to match the values with their corresponding land cover types as per the user guide.
• 🖥️ The tutorial concludes with instructions on how to reclassify the data and customize the display for better visualization.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the video tutorial?

The purpose of the video tutorial is to guide viewers on how to download land cover data from the USGS Earth Explorer.

What is the resolution of the MODIS Terra land cover data mentioned in the video?

The resolution of the MODIS Terra land cover data is 500m by 500m.

What years of data are available for the global land cover dataset?

The global land cover dataset is available year-wise from 2001 to 2022.

What is the data type and version of the land cover data set used in the tutorial?

The data type is land cover type MCD12Q1 version 6.1.

Which instrument acquires the land cover data discussed in the video?

The land cover data is acquired from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on both the Terra and Aqua satellites.

What file format is the land cover data provided in?

The land cover data is provided in HDF4 file format.

Why is an Earth Explorer account required to download the data?

An Earth Explorer account is required to access and download the land cover data from the USGS Earth Explorer platform.

How can one create an Earth Explorer account if they don't have one?

The video creator has made a separate video explaining how to create an Earth Explorer account, and a link to that video is provided in the description.

What is the role of the NASA Earth Data login in the data download process?

The NASA Earth Data login is required for authentication to download the land cover data from the USGS Earth Explorer.

How can viewers find the user guide for the land cover data?

The user guide can be found in the 'Product Quality' section of the data set details on the Earth Explorer platform.

What software is used to visualize the downloaded land cover data?

The software used to visualize the land cover data is ArcGIS, as indicated by the mention of adding data and changing projections within the software.

What is the process for reclassifying the land cover data in ArcGIS?

The process involves using the 'Reclassify' tool in ArcGIS's spatial analysis toolbox, where unique values from the raster data are reclassified according to the user guide's classification.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Introduction to Downloading Land Cover Data

The video tutorial begins with a welcome to the Tera's Special channel and an introduction to downloading land cover data from the USGS Earth Explorer. The presenter shows an example of already downloaded land cover data for a larger area, derived from MODIS Terra with a resolution of 500m by 500m. The data is available globally from 2001 to 2022, and the file format is HDF4. The tutorial requires an Earth Explorer account and a NASA Earth data login. The presenter guides viewers to open their browser, navigate to the Earth Explorer website, and log in or create an account if necessary. The next step is to select an Area of Interest (AOI), which the presenter does by searching for 'chai' and setting the date range from 2001 to 2022. The data set chosen is the NASA LPD WACC collection, specifically the MODIS land cover v6.1. The presenter also mentions the need for NASA Earth data login credentials for downloading the data.

05:02

📈 Exploring and Downloading Data Sets

In this section, the presenter demonstrates how to explore and download data sets from the Earth Explorer. After selecting the data sets, the viewer is shown how to view the data sets for each year, starting from 2022. The presenter chooses to download the latest year's data, which is 2022, and explains that a NASA data login is required for the download. The presenter then guides viewers to open a new tab, navigate to the NASA data login page, and sign up or log in with existing credentials. Once logged in, the presenter returns to Earth Explorer to download the data set in HDF format. The data is saved in a folder named 'modis LC', and the presenter confirms the successful download of approximately 9MB of data. The presenter then refers to the user guide for further information on the data classification.

10:04

🛠️ Reclassification and Visualization of Data

The presenter moves on to the reclassification and visualization of the downloaded land cover data. They open the GIS software and add the downloaded data, adjusting the projection to the geographical coordinate system. The presenter then uses the 'Reclassify' tool to reclassify the data based on unique values found in the data. The old data values are mapped to new ones according to the user guide, ensuring that each land cover type is correctly represented. The presenter saves the output raster and turns off the previous layer to view the reclassified data. They then proceed to rename and color-code different land cover types such as water bodies, barren land, and various types of forests, using the information provided in the user guide. The presenter notes that some fields may not be available depending on the region and encourages viewers to consult the user guide for accurate classification.

15:06

📢 Conclusion and Invitation for Questions

In the final paragraph, the presenter concludes the tutorial by inviting viewers to ask any questions they may have in the comment section. They offer to answer these questions, ensuring that viewers have a clear understanding of the process. The presenter thanks the viewers for watching and bids them goodbye, wrapping up the tutorial on downloading and reclassifying land cover data from the USGS Earth Explorer.

Keywords

💡Land Cover Data

Land cover data refers to the information that describes the physical and biological cover of the Earth's surface, including types of vegetation, water bodies, and human-made structures. In the video, the presenter shows how to download this data from the USGS Earth Explorer, which is crucial for mapping and understanding the area of interest. The script mentions that the data is derived from MODIS Terra, indicating its satellite-based origin and its use for larger area mapping.

💡MODIS Terra

MODIS Terra stands for Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on the Terra satellite. It is an instrument that captures data about the Earth's surface, including land cover. The video discusses downloading land cover data derived from MODIS Terra, highlighting its role in providing high-resolution imagery for mapping purposes. The resolution mentioned is 500m by 500m, which is suitable for broad-scale land cover analysis.

💡Earth Explorer

Earth Explorer is a platform provided by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) that allows users to search, visualize, and download geospatial data. The video tutorial guides viewers on how to log in to Earth Explorer and navigate its interface to download land cover data. It is central to the video's theme as it is the primary tool used for accessing the data.

💡Area of Interest (AOI)

An Area of Interest (AOI) is a specific geographic region that a researcher or analyst has chosen to study or monitor. In the context of the video, the presenter selects an AOI to focus the search for land cover data. The script describes how to input the AOI in Earth Explorer and how it narrows down the data retrieval process to the desired region.

💡Data Sets

Data sets in the video refer to the collections of data that are available for download from Earth Explorer. The presenter selects a specific data set, 'MODIS Land Cover v6.1', which is part of the NASA LPD wacc collection. The video explains the importance of choosing the correct data set for the analysis and how it relates to the land cover mapping.

💡HDF4 File Format

HDF4, or Hierarchical Data Format version 4, is a file format designed to store and organize large and complex scientific data. The video mentions that the land cover data is available in HDF4 format, which is a standard for geospatial data and allows for efficient storage and retrieval of the data sets.

💡NASA Earth Data Login

NASA Earth Data Login is a service that provides users with access to NASA's Earth science data. The video script explains that in order to download certain data sets from Earth Explorer, users need to have NASA Earth Data login credentials. This is a crucial step in the data access process, as it authenticates the user and grants permission to download the data.

💡Reclassification

Reclassification in the context of the video refers to the process of assigning new values to the data categories in a raster dataset. This is done to simplify the data or to match it with a specific classification scheme. The presenter demonstrates how to use a reclassification tool in ArcGIS to adjust the land cover data according to the user guide's classification system.

💡User Guide

A user guide in this video is a document that provides instructions and explanations on how to use a particular product or service. The presenter mentions the user guide for the land cover data, which includes information on data processing, classification, and how to interpret the values in the dataset. It is a valuable resource for understanding the data and ensuring accurate analysis.

💡Raster Data

Raster data represents a grid of values that correspond to a geographic area, with each cell in the grid containing a single value. In the video, the land cover data is in raster format, which is suitable for spatial analysis and visualization. The script describes how to add and manipulate raster data in ArcGIS, such as changing projections and reclassifying values.

Highlights

Introduction to downloading land cover data from USGS Earth Explorer.

Demonstration of already downloaded land cover data for an area of interest.

Explanation of the land cover data's source, resolution, and area coverage.

Description of the data type, acquisition method, and file format.

Requirement of Earth Explorer account and NASA Earth data login for data access.

Step-by-step guide to logging into Earth Explorer and selecting an area of interest.

Instructions on searching for the specific land cover data set within the platform.

Details on selecting the data set, including the version and data source.

Process of downloading data using NASA data login credentials.

Explanation of the data set's appearance and its utility for large area mapping.

Guidance on accessing and understanding the user guide for data classification.

Tutorial on visualizing the data using GIS software and changing projections.

Walkthrough of the reclassification process for land cover data.

Instructions on saving the output raster after reclassification.

Description of the reclassification results and the appearance of different land cover types.

Advice on customizing the appearance and naming of different land cover classes.

Conclusion and invitation for questions in the comment section.

Transcripts

hi hello everyone welcome to teras

special in this video tutorial I'll be

showing you how to download land cover

data from usus Earth Explorer so as you

can see this is nothing but already

downloaded the land cover data for my

area of

Interest so you can see the classes so

it is for a a larger area because it is

derived from the

modus

Terra so the resolution will be 500 M by

500

so if you want to map for map for a

larger area land cover you can use this

data

sets now just go back to the uh Word

document you can see this is a a global

land cover data which is available

year-wise from 2001 to

2022 and the data type is land cover

type MCD q12 q1 version

6.1 it is being acquired from

Terra and aqua combine moderate

resolution imag imaging spectrometer

that is

modus so the file format has been given

in hdf4 file

format and additionally we

required Earth explor account as well

as NASA Earth data login account so let

us see how to do that open your

browser and first

let us log to Earth

Explorer so this is the earth

explorer

link at explorer. usgs.gov I'll be

giving this link in the description you

can check it

out link click on the

link so the first action will be login

so hit the button

login so if you don't have an uh Earth

Explorer account I have already made a

video on it how to create an earth

Explorer account it's very simple I'll

be putting that video in the description

as well as I'll be giving it in the

class please do check

it now we need to provide our username

and password and if you come down you

can see the option sign in if you don't

have an account you can just click on

this option and create an account so

sign in as

first the next step is selection

of aoi that is area of

Interest so my area of Interest doesn't

fall in US features so I'm going to opt

for World features here you can search

in the name for

example my area of is area of interest

is chai so I'm going to type in chai and

hit the button show

at the bottom you can uh see the results

coming up here you can

see click on this result it will be

automatically navigating to the

location now come

down here you can see this is a date

range search from so I'm going to search

from I'm going to search for the

year

2001

so the data is available from uh 2001 to

2002 here once again I'm going

to you December

31st okay let me give a up to

2022 December

31st and next option is data sets so

here we are going to to select our data

set just uh scroll and come down you can

find the option NASA LPD wacc

collection under that you can find Modi

land cover

v6.1 click on the plus button you can

see mod is yeah so

additionally uh we must we required the

uh NASA ad data login credentials for

downloading this data so click okay

now this is the data you can click on

the I

button so that uh you get more uh things

to know about this data sets click on

this ey

button you can see these are the

informations uh related to this uh

processing of the image how it is being

derived and here calm down you can find

the option product quality here you can

find the user guide so I will tell you

the use of this user guide

later now after selecting the data sets

hit the button

results so you can see

here for every year an image is there

starting from

2022 let me click on the button

lost you can

see up to uh 2001 it has been

given let me go to the

first and let me download for the latest

year that is

2022 let us have a view of this uh data

sets so this is how the data sets looks

like it covers a larger

area uh if you are do mapping it for a

larger area it is very

useful for downloading this we need

we need

a NASA data login so here open another

Tab and type

in data login and hit the button

search you can see the link I'll be

giving the link in the description

please check it

out now after clicking and uh you can

see is uh the information so let me

first sign

out so actually the user page looks like

this we need to provide our username and

password if you don't have username and

password select the register button it

is very very easy you just have to

create a username password first name

middle name email ID country

affiliation study area for example here

I'm going to

choose land processes likewise you can

select according accordingly and finally

we need to uh agree with this

terms and after that uh check in I not a

robot and hit the button register you'll

be given

a you'll be asked to confirm your

uh registration after doing so you can

directly download a

data so in this case I have already

having an account let me go back

and hit the button log in so I have

logged in successfully now coming back

to the uh Earth Explorer now you can

without uh any problem you can download

the data you can see the data set is

available in HTF format hit the button

download let us wait for the data to be

downloaded here let me create a folder

mode is

LC I'm going to save it so we have

downloaded the data successfully it's

just around uh 9

MB now going back to the user guide so I

have told you in the product quality you

can find the user guide you can just

click here automatically a tab will be

opening and the user guide will be

loaded here visit page number

nine so you can see based on the

values the classification has been

given

respectively so now open a g in order to

visualize the

data first let me add the

data so I have saved it in mod is

LC this is a land uh land cover data I'm

going to select

add now you can see here sub data set

zero so I'm going to add the First

Data

yes now you can see how the image is

been tilted so let me change

the

projection going back to the

geographical qu uh coordinate system

World wjs

1984

yes okay yes now you can see how the

data looks I have change the

coordinate now right click on it and go

to the option

properties so here you can see values 1

to 17 is there if you classified

it let me choose

17

apply this is how the data looks like so

the next step will be

reclassification so open the search bar

and uh type in

reclassify so if you didn't find the

reclassified tool or search bar sorry if

you don't find the Search tool here it

will be available at the

top now select a reclassify spatial

analysis tool double click and open a

tool now we need to input our raster

this

data now you can

see

so once again click properties

I'm going to use stretched instead of

classified so you you can see I have hit

the button

unique so the unique value will be

classified

reclassified I just need

to get this data properly because the

old data one is equal to I have I have

to put it in the new data

one like this I just need

to reum

it in order to properly uh classify

it because in the user guide you can see

the value is being given each value

represents uh land cover type so we we

must be very very careful about

this

11

12

13

14

16 and finally 17 so these are the

unique values which are available in

this

raster so you can save the output raster

anywhere I'm just uh saving to the

default now click okay to begin the

process so we have successfully

reclassify now let me turn off the

previous layer you can see these are

the values which are available so let me

go back to

the document here you can see 17 177 is

water body so I'm going to change

it I'm going to change the color to

Blue and rename it to water

bodies and the next is 16 that is

nothing but Baron

land

so likewise you can easily uh do the uh

give the

namings so let me go to the top you can

see evergreen forest uh needle leaf or

evergreen forest Broad Leaf so let me do

it for that

also a g Forest I'm going to

like this you can do and four and five

will be the DDS Forest sorry three and

four is Deus

Forest so I'm going to optain lighter

green so like this you can do for each

classes you can

do this is uh

Ever

Green

Forest this is

ddds same thing from the PDF you can

just uh bring it you can just copy it

and paste it over there

so you can see here some Fields might

not be

available for

example field 3 was not there and you

can see field 15 will be not there so

this may VAR based on the regions so

simply you can uh easily do it without

any problem so if you have any other

doubts in this you can ask in the

comment section I'll be answering to

your questions thanks for watching

goodbye everyone