The layers present the application of the Degree of Urbanisation stage I methodology recommended by UN Statistical Commission to the global population grid generated by the JRC in the epochs 1975-2030 (5 years timestep). They have been generated by integration of built-up surface extracted from Landsat and Sentinel-2 image data processing (GHS-BUILT-S R2023), and population data derived from the CIESIN GPW v4.11 (GHS-POP R2023).
This product is an update of the data released in 2022 based on the updates of the GHS-BUILT-S and GHS-POP. The Settlement Model is provided at the detailed level (Second Level - L2). First level can be obtained aggregating L2.
Schiavina, Marcello; Melchiorri, Michele; Pesaresi, Martino (2026): GHS-SMOD R2023A - GHS settlement layers, application of the Degree of Urbanisation methodology (stage I) to GHS-POP R2023A and GHS-BUILT-S R2023A, multitemporal (1975-2030). European Commission, Joint Research Centre [Dataset] doi: 10.2905/JRC.SPX1FDR; 10.2905/A0DF7A6F-49DE-46EA-9BDE-563437A6E2BA PID: http://data.europa.eu/89h/a0df7a6f-49de-46ea-9bde-563437a6e2ba
Degree of UrbanisationGHS-SMODGHSLGlobal mapGPWHigh density clusterslow density cluystersruralSettlement modelurban centreurban clusterurban-rural population
The data is organised in several datasets, i.e., one GHS settlement grid per each epoch 1975-2030 (5 years timestep). All datasets are offered at low resolution (1km, World Mollweide projection). The compressed ZIP file contain TIF files and GPKG files of the settlements boundaries in 2020; a short documentation is also included.
Project Web site
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The Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) produces new global spatial information, evidence-based analytics and knowledge describing the human presence on planet Earth. It operates in a fully open and free data and methods access policy. The knowledge generated with the GHSL is supporting the definition, the public discussion and the implementation of European policies and the monitoring of international frameworks such as the 2030 Development Agenda. The GHSL are the core data set of the Exposure Mapping Component under the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. GHSL data continue to support the GEO Human Planet Initiative (HPI) that is committed to developing a new generation of measurements and information products providing new scientific evidence and a comprehensive understanding of the human presence on the planet and that can support global policy processes with agreed, actionable and goal-driven metrics. The Human Planet Initiative relies on a core set of partners committed in coordinating the production of the global settlement spatial baseline data.
This document describes the public release of the GHSL Data Package 2023 (GHS P2023). The release provides improved built-up (including surface, volume and height) and population products as well as a new settlement model and classification of administrative and territorial units according to the Degree of Urbanisation.
| From date | To date |
|---|---|
| 1975-01-01 | 2030-12-31 |
