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- North American Land Change Monitoring System
NALCMS products can be used for a variety of applications, including: carbon sequestration analysis, wildlife habitat mapping, ecosystem monitoring, environmental planning, water quality assessments, and evaluation of biofuels production potential.
The maps produced under this initiative represent land cover in 2005, 2010, and 2015, and are based on either Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite imagery monthly composites at 250 m spatial resolution; Landsat-7; or RapidEye satellite imagery at 30 m spatial resolution.
The NALCMS’ nineteen land cover classes are based on the Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) standard developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
Map Files
This map demonstrates land cover change between 2010 and 2015 in North America at a spatial resolution of 30 meters. The dataset shows the 2010-2015 changes between the nineteen Level II land cover classes, which were defined using the Land Cover...
This map of North American land cover at a spatial resolution of 30 meters provides a harmonized view of the physical cover of Earth's surface across the continent based on 2015 Landsat satellite imagery for Canada and the United States, and...
This map of North American land cover at a spatial resolution of 30 meters provides a harmonized view of the physical cover of Earth's surface across the continent based on 2010 Landsat satellite imagery. Nineteen Level II land cover classes were...
This map demonstrates land cover change between 2005 and 2010 in North America at a spatial resolution of 250 meters. The dataset shows the 2005-2010 changes between the nineteen Level II land cover classes, which were defined using the Land Cover...
This map of North American land cover at a spatial resolution of 250 meters provides a harmonized view of the physical cover of Earth's surface across the continent based on 2010 Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite...
This map of North American land cover at a spatial resolution of 250 meters provides a harmonized view of the physical cover of Earth's surface across the continent based on 2005 Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite...
Interactive Story Map of North American Land Cover Change, 2010-2015
The newest North American land cover change map provides a complete picture of the dynamics of the Earth’s surface in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, based on natural phenomena such as wildfires, fluctuations in the levels of inland water bodies, as well as changes driven by human activities.
Interactive Pictorial Map of North America
Visualize and learn about different land cover classes across North America.
Click here to access an interactive pictorial map that allows users to visualize and learn about different land cover classes across North America.
Land Cover Diversity Map
Publications
Here are scientific publications by North American Land Change Monitoring System experts:
Authors: Colditz, R.R., Llamas, R.M., Ressl, R.A., 2014. Detecting change areas in Mexico between 2005 and 2010 using 250 m MODIS images
Authors: Colditz, R.R. Pouliot, D., Llamas R.M., Homer, C., Latifovic, R., Ressl, R.A., Meneses Tovar, C., Victoria Hernández, A., Richardson, K., 2014. Detection of North American land cover change between...
Authors: Latifovic, R., Homer, C., Ressl, R., Pouliot, D., Hossain, S.N., Colditz, R.R., Olthof, I., Giri, C., Victoria, A., 2012. North American land change monitoring system...
Authors: Colditz, R.R., López Saldaña, G., Maeda, P., Argumedo Espinoza, J., Meneses Tovar, C., Victoria Hernández, A., Ornelas de la Anda, J.-L., Zermeño Benítez, C., Cruz López, I., Ressl, R., 2012
For more information, contact:
Zakir Jafry
Tools and GIS Coordinator
(514) 350-4307
