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Land Cover Map (CEH)

Released in July 2011, Land Cover Map 2007 (LCM2007) is the latest land cover map to be produced by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. It covers the whole of the UK.

Over the last 20 years, CEH has produced three digital land cover maps: LCMGB 1990, LCM2000 and LCM2007. Each of these land cover maps has been produced as a number of different products with varying data formats and spatial resolutions. All of the products of the three land cover maps can be obtained from CEH under licence for academic, non-commercial and commercial use.

LCMGB 1990

The Land Cover Map of Great Britain 1990 (LCMGB) was the first complete map of the land cover of Great Britain since the 1960s. It was also the first of three land cover maps to be produced by what is now the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

LCMGB 2000

Land Cover Map 2000 (LCM2000), is a parcel-based classification of satellite image data showing land cover for the entire United Kingdom. The map updates and substantially upgrades the Land Cover Map of Great Britain (LCMGB) 1990.

Like the earlier LCMGB, LCM2000 is derived from a computer classification of satellite scenes obtained mainly from the Landsat sensor but, in addition to LCMGB, it also covers Northern Ireland, producing for the first time an all-UK dataset.

LCMGB 2007

Released in July 2011, Land Cover Map 2007 (LCM2007) is the latest land cover map to be produced by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

It has been derived from satellite images and digital cartography and gives land cover information for the entire UK. Land cover is based on UK Biodiversity Action Plan Broad Habitats.

LCM2007 builds upon the successes of the parcel-based mapping of LCM2000 and employs similar but enhanced classification techniques. The principal difference between LCM2007 and LCM2000 is the source of land cover parcels. LCM2007 parcels come from generalised digital cartography, refined with image segments. LCM2000 uses only image segments.

Data availability: Self download possible for 1km data via CEH Information Gateway after obtaining click-through licence. Quote request required for 25m raster data and vector data.

Charge: Available under licence and free of charge to academics and students for use on specific, named, non-commercial research projects. Administration and handling fees may apply.

Sample available: Download