
- Dataset Availability
- 2006-02-05T00:00:00Z–2019-03-14T00:00:00Z
- Dataset Provider
- Joint Research Center, Unit D5
- Tags
Description
The Land Use/Cover Area frame Survey (LUCAS) in the European Union (EU) was set up to provide statistical information. It represents a triennial in-situ landcover and land-use data-collection exercise that extends over the whole of the EU's territory. LUCAS collects information on land cover and land use, agro-environmental variables, soil, and grassland. The surveys also provide spatial information to analyse the mutual influences between agriculture, environment, and countryside, such as irrigation and land management.
The dataset presented here is the harmonized version of all yearly LUCAS surveys with a total of 106 attributes. Each point's location is using the fields 'th_lat' and 'th_lon', that is, the LUCAS theoretical location (THLOC), as prescribed by the LUCAS grid. For more information please see Citations. Note that not every field is present for every year - see the "Years" section in property descriptions.
The text "C1 (Instructions)" in the table schema descriptions refers to this document .
See also the 2018 LUCAS polygons dataset .
Table Schema
Table Schema
Unique row identifier.
Source: Added by harmonization process
8-digit unique point identifier, point ID according to the LUCAS grid. Such a point ID can either be part or not of a particular yearly LUCAS survey.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.141, sec.9.1.1
Years: all
Year of survey.
Source: Added by harmonization process
Years: all
NUTS 2016 Level 0.
Years: all
NUTS 2016 Level 1.
Years: all
NUTS 2016 Level 2.
Years: all
NUTS 2016 Level 3.
Years: 2018
Whether photo-interpretation has happened in the office for this LUCAS point. If true, then this point_id was not visited by an inspector for this year.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions), p.141, sec.9.1.1
Years: 2015, 2018
Ex-ante points are points that are parts of the in-situ sample and in principle have to be visited in the field, although there are a posteriori reasons why this is impossible. If true, then this point_id was not visited by an inspector for this year.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions), p.16, sec 8.1; C1(Instructions), p.141, sec.9.1.1
Years: 2018
Date on which the survey was carried out in the format dd/mm/yy
Years: all
Latitude (WGS84) on which the car was parked.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.141, sec.9.1.2
Years: 2018
GPS Car parking East/West compass setting. Used for knowing when to add a minus to the respective coordinate.
Values:
- East
- West
- empty if not relevant
Years: 2018
Longitude (WGS84) on which the car was parked.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.142, sec.9.1.2
Years: 2018
GPS projection.
Values:
- WGS84
- No GPS signal
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions), p.142, sec.9.1.2
Years: all
Average location error as given by GPS receiver (in meters).
Source: C1(Instructions), p.142, sec.9.1.2
Years: all
Elevation in m above sea level.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.141, sec.9.1.1
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018
GPS latitude of the location from which observation is actually done (WGS84) measured in degrees.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.142, sec.9.1.2
Years: all
East-west encoding setting for GPS.
Values:
- East
- West
- empty if not relevant
Years: all
GPS longitude of the location from which observation is actually done (WGS84) measured in degrees.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.142, sec.9.1.2
Years: all
Distance between observation location and the LUCAS point as provided by the GPS receiver (in meters).
Years: all
Direction of the observation.
Values:
- On the point: Point regularly observed
- Look to the North: "Look to the North" rule is applied id the point is located on a boundary/ e.g., or a small linear feature (<3 m wide)
- Look to the East: "Look to the East" rule is applied if he point is located on a boundary/e.g., or a small linear feature (<3 m wide)
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions), p.144, sec.9.1.4
Years: all
The method of observation for the relevant point. For the availability of LUCAS photos according to obs_type, please check C1(Instructions), sec. 8.15.3.
Values:
- In situ < 100 m
- In situ > 100 m
- In situ PI
- In situ PI not possible
- Out of national territory
- In office PI
- Marine Sea
- (only 2015)
Find more details check the documentation.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.142-144, sec.9.1.4
Years: all
Which letter group (top tier classification) from the C3 document is the point assigned to.
Source: Added by harmonization process
Years: all
Coding of land cover according to harmonized C3 classification. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Years: all
Label of land cover according to harmonized C3 document. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Coding of land cover species according to harmonized C3 classification. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018
Label of land cover species according to harmonized C3 document. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
The percentage that the assigned land cover type (lc1) occupies on the ground.
Values:
- < 10 %
- 10 - 25 %
- 25 - 50 %
- 50 - 75 %
- > 75 %
- empty if not relevant
This coding applies only for the years 2009-2015 . For 2018 the number represents the percentage of land-cover (0-100). The variable does not exist for 2006
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018
Coding of land cover according to harmonized C3 classification. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Years: all
Label of land cover according to harmonized C3 document. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Coding of land cover species according to harmonized C3 classification. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018
Label of land cover species according to harmonized C3 document. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
The percentage that the assigned land cover type (lc2) occupies on the ground.
Values:
- < 10 %
- 10 - 25 %
- 25 - 50 %
- 50 - 75 %
- > 75 %
- empty if not relevant
This coding applies only for the years 2009-2015 . For 2018 the number represents the percentage of land-cover (0-100). The variable does not exist for 2006
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018
Coding of the land use according to Harmonized C3 document classification. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Years: all
Label of the land use according to Harmonized C3 document classification. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Coding of the land use types according to Harmonized C3 document classification. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Years: 2015, 2018
Label of the land use types according to Harmonized C3 document classification. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
The percentage that the assigned land use type (lu1) occupies on the ground.
Values:
- < 5 %
- 5 - 10 %
- 10 - 25 %
- 25 - 50 %
- 50 - 75 %
- 75 - 90 %
- > 90 %
- Not Relevant
This coding applies only for the year 2015. For 2018 the number represents the percentage of land-cover (0-100). The variable does not exist for 2006, 2009 and 2012.
Years: 2015, 2018
Coding of the land use according to Harmonized C3 document classification. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Years: all
Label of the land use according to Harmonized C3 document classification. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Coding of the land use types according to Harmonized C3 document classification. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Years: 2015, 2018
Label of the land use types according to Harmonized C3 document classification. Coding and label translation can be found in the supporting docs in file c3_legends_new.csv .
Source: Harmonized C3 document
The percentage that the assigned land use type (lu2) occupies on the ground.
Values:
- < 5 %
- 5 - 10 %
- 10 - 25 %
- 25 - 50 %
- 50 - 75 %
- 75 - 90 %
- > 90 %
- Not Relevant
This coding applies only for the year 2015. For 2018 the number represents the percentage of land-cover (0-100). The variable does not exist for 2006, 2009 and 2012.
Years: 2015, 2018
Size of the surveyed parcel in hectares.
Values:
- < 0.5
- 0.5 - 1
- 1 - 10
- > 10
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions), p.50, sec.8.4.15
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018
Height of trees at maturity.
Values:
- < 5 m
- > 5 m
- Not identifiable
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions), p.147, sec.9.1.6
Years: 2012, 2015, 2018
Height of trees at the moment of survey.
Values:
- < 5 m
- > 5 m
- Not identifiable
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions), p.147, sec.9.1.6
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018
Width of the feature.
Values:
- < 20 m
- > 20 m
- Not identifiable
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions), p.147, sec.9.1.6
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018
Presence of stone walls on the plot.
Values:
- No
- Stone wall not maintained
- Stone wall well maintained
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions), p.148, sec.9.1.7
Years: 2018
Presence of crop residues on the plot.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions), p.51, sec.8.6
Years: 2018
Presence of grass margins on the plot.
Values:
- No
- < 1 m width
- > 1 m width
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions), p.148, sec.9.1.7
Years: 2018
Signs of grazing on the plot.
Values:
- Signs of grazing
- No signs of grazing
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions), p.148, sec.9.1.8
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018
Whether the plot is a part of any specially regulated area.
Values:
- Protected
- Hunting
- Protected and hunting
- No special status
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions), p.149, sec.9.1.8
Years: 2012, 2015, 2018
Any special remarks on the land cover / land use.
Values:
- Harvested field
- Tilled/sowed
- Clear cut
- Burnt area
- Fire break
- Nursery
- Dump site
- Temporary dry
- Temporary flooded
- No remark
- empty if not relevant
For more details check the documentation.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.149-150, sec.9.1.8
Years: 2012, 2015, 2018
Whether a Copernicus survey can be done on this point. For more information on the Copernicus module and the data created please refer to d'Andrimont et al, 2021 .
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions), p.58, sec.8.8.1, C1(Instructions), p.150, sec.9.1.9
Years: 2018
The land cover on the Copernicus points according to the classification scheme at level2.
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Years: 2018
Label of land cover on the Copernicus points according to the classification scheme at level2.
Source: Harmonized C3 document
The extent (in meters) to which the land cover of the Copernicus point stays the same in direction North.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.150, sec.9.1.9
Years: 2018
The extent (in meters) to which the land cover of the Copernicus point stays the same in direction East.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.150, sec.9.1.9
Years: 2018
The extent (in meters) to which the land cover of the Copernicus point stays the same in direction South.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.150, sec.9.1.9
Years: 2018
The extent (in meters) to which the land cover of the Copernicus point stays the same in direction West.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.150, sec.9.1.9
Years: 2018
The breath (in %) to the next Copernicus land cover in direction North.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.150, sec.9.1.9
Years: 2018
The breath (in %) to the next Copernicus land cover in direction East.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.150, sec.9.1.9
Years: 2018
The breath (in %) to the next Copernicus land cover in direction South.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.150, sec.9.1.9
Years: 2018
The breath (in %) to the next Copernicus land cover in direction West.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.150, sec.9.1.9
Years: 2018
The recorded next land cover if a land cover change (LUCAS land cover level 2) occurs within 50m in direction North, regardless of the fact that the next land cover is visible on the landscape photo or not. Any feature less than 3m wide is not taken into account and is not considered a land cover change.
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Years: 2018
The recorded next land cover if a land cover change (LUCAS land cover level 2) occurs within 50m in direction South, regardless of the fact that the next land cover is visible on the landscape photo or not. Any feature less than 3m wide is not taken into account and is not considered a land cover change.
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Years: 2018
The recorded next land cover if a land cover change (LUCAS land cover level 2) occurs within 50m in direction East, regardless of the fact that the next land cover is visible on the landscape photo or not. Any feature less than 3m wide is not taken into account and is not considered a land cover change.
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Years: 2018
The recorded next land cover if a land cover change (LUCAS land cover level 2) occurs within 50m in direction West, regardless of the fact that the next land cover is visible on the landscape photo or not. Any feature less than 3m wide is not taken into account and is not considered a land cover change.
Source: Harmonized C3 document
Years: 2018
Whether the Copernicus point located in an urban area.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions), p.151, sec.9.1.10.1
Years: 2018
Percentage of impervious surfaces.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.151, sec.9.1.10.1
Years: 2018
Percentage of coniferous trees.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.151, sec.9.1.10.2
Years: 2015, 2018
Percentage of broadleaved trees.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.151, sec.9.1.10.2
Years: 2015, 2018
Percentage of shrubs.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.151, sec.9.1.10.2
Years: 2015, 2018
Percentage of herbaceous plants.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.151, sec.9.1.10.2
Years: 2015, 2018
Percentage of lichens and mosses.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.151, sec.9.1.10.2
Years: 2015, 2018
Percentage of consolidated (bare) surface (e.g., rock outcrops).
Source: C1(Instructions), p.151, sec.9.1.10.2
Years: 2015, 2018
Percentage of unconsolidated (bare) surface (e.g., sand).
Source: C1(Instructions), p.151, sec.9.1.10.2
Years: 2015, 2018
Difference between the sum of all inspire persentage classes and 100%.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.151, sec.9.1.10.2
Years: 2015, 2018
EUNIS habitat classification.
Values:
- X06
- X09
- Other
- Unknown
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions), p.152, sec.9.1.11
Years: 2018
Whether the point is a part of the grassland module.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions), p.152, sec.9.1.12
Years: 2018
Whether a grassland survey is possible.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions), p.152, sec.9.1.12
Years: 2018
Type of water management present at the point.
Values:
- Irrigation
- Potential irrigation
- Drainage
- Irrigation and drainage
- No visible water management
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions), p.162, sec.9.1.13
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018
Source of the irrigation at the point.
Values:
- Combo - Other/Not Identifiable + Well
- Combo - Other/Not Identifiable + Pond/Lake/Reservoir
- Combo - Other/Not Identifiable + Stream/Canal/Ditch
- Combo - Other/Not Identifiable + Lagoon/Wastewater
- Combo - Pond/Lake/Reservoir + Stream/Canal/Ditch
- Lagoon/Wastewater
- Pond/Lake/Reservoir
- Stream/Canal/Ditch
- Well
- Other/Not Identifiable
- empty if not relevant
Combo classes exist only for 2009 and were later discontinued. For more details check the documentation.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.163, sec.9.1.13
Years: 2009
The type of irrigation present at the point.
Values:
- Gravity
- Pressure: Sprinkle irrigation
- Pressure: Micro-irrigation
- Gravity/Pressure
- Other/Non identifiable
- Combo - Pressure: Sprinkle irrigation + Pressure: Micro-irrigation
- Combo - Gravity/Pressure + Gravity
- Combo - Pressure: Sprinkle irrigation + Gravity/Pressure
- Combo - Pressure: Micro-irrigation + Gravity/Pressure
- Other/not identifiable
- Combo - Other/Non identifiable + Gravity
- Combo - Other/Non identifiable + Gravity/Pressure
- Combo - Other/Non identifiable + Gravity/Pressure + Pressure: Micro-irrigation
- empty if not relevant
Combo classes exist only for 2009 and were later discontinued. For more details check the documentation.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.162-163, sec.9.1.13
Years: 2009
The irrigation delivery system at the point.
Values:
- Canal
- Combo - Pipeline + Ditch
- Combo - Other/Non identifiable + Ditch
- Combo - Other/Non identifiable + Pipeline
- Ditch
- Pipeline
- Other/Non identifiable
- Other/Non identifiable + Canal
- empty if not relevant
Combo classes exist only for 2009 and were later discontinued. For more details check the documentation.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.163-164, sec.9.1.13
Years: 2009
Whether a point is foreseen for assessing erosion (true) or not (false).
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions), p.168, sec.9.1.15
Years: 2018
Percentage of stones on the surface (does not include stones covered by soil).
Values:
- < 10 %
- 10 - 25 %
- 25 - 50 %
- > 50 %
- empty if not relevant
This coding applies only for the years 2009-2015 . For 2018 the number represents the percentage of stones on the surface (0-100). The variable does not exist for 2006.
Source: C1(Instructions), p.164, sec.9.1.14.2
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018
Whether the point a biodiversity sample point.
Values:
- true
- false
Years: 2018
Whether a soil-biodiversity sample was taken.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: 2018
Whether a point is foreseen for collecting the bulk density between the given range.
Values:
- false
- true
Years: 2018
Whether the soil sample between the given range was taken.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: 2018
Whether a point is foreseen for collecting the bulk density between the given range.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: 2018
Whether the soil sample between the given range was taken.
Values:
- Yes
- No
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: 2018
Whether a point is foreseen for collecting the bulk density between the given range.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: 2018
Whether the soil sample between the given range was taken.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: 2018
Whether the point is a standard soil point.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: 2018
Whether the standard soil sample was taken.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: 2018
Whether the point is an organic sample point.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: 2018
Whether depth can be evaluated.
Values:
- true
- false
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: 2018
Has a soil sample been taken (before 2018).
Values:
- Yes
- Not possible
- No, already taken
- No sample required
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015
Percentage of residual crop.
Values:
- < 10 %
- 10 - 25 %
- 25 - 50 %
- > 50 %
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015
Whether a photo on the point was taken.
Values:
- Photo taken
- Photo not taken
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: all
Whether a photo looking north was taken.
Values:
- Photo taken
- Photo not taken
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: all
Whether a photo looking south was taken.
Values:
- Photo taken
- Photo not taken
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: all
Whether a photo looking east was taken.
Values:
- Photo taken
- Photo not taken
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: all
Whether a photo looking west been taken.
Values:
- Photo taken
- Photo not taken
- empty if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: all
The changes in land cover as recorded by the east-facing transect line.
Years: 2009, 2012, 2015
Number of visits to the point throughout the survey years.
Source: Added by harmonization process
Calculated distance between theoretical and recorded location.
Source: Added by harmonization process
File path to north-facing photo as stored on ESTAT GISCO sever.
Source: Added by harmonization process
Years: all
File path to south-facing photo as stored on ESTAT GISCO sever.
Source: Added by harmonization process
Years: all
File path to east-facing photo as stored on ESTAT GISCO sever.
Source: Added by harmonization process
Years: all
File path to west-facing photo as stored on ESTAT GISCO sever.
Source: Added by harmonization process
Years: all
File path to point-facing photo as stored on ESTAT GISCO sever.
Source: Added by harmonization process
Years: all
The radius of observation - whether the near or the extended window of observation is applied.
Values:
- 1.5
- 20
- null if not relevant
Source: C1(Instructions)
Years: 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015
Terms of Use
Terms of Use
Citations
-
d'Andrimont, R., Yordanov, M., Martinez-Sanchez, L. et al. Harmonised LUCAS in-situ land cover and use database for field surveys from 2006 to 2018 in the European Union. Sci Data 7, 352 (2020). doi:10.1038/s41597-020-00675-z
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var dataset = ee . FeatureCollection ( 'JRC/LUCAS_HARMO/THLOC/V1' ); // For the Inspector Map . addLayer ( dataset , {}, 'LUCAS Points (data)' , false ); dataset = dataset . style ({ color : '489734' , pointSize : 3 , }); Map . setCenter ( - 3.8233 , 40.609 , 10 ); Map . addLayer ( dataset , {}, 'LUCAS Points (styled green)' );
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var fvLayer = ui . Map . FeatureViewLayer ( 'JRC/LUCAS_HARMO/THLOC/V1_FeatureView' ); var visParams = { pointSize : 8 , color : '808080' , pointFillColor : { property : 'inspire_plcc4' , mode : 'linear' , palette : [ 'ffffcc' , 'c2e699' , '78c679' , '238443' ], min : 0 , max : 100 } }; fvLayer . setVisParams ( visParams ); fvLayer . setName ( 'LUCAS herbaceous cover' ); Map . setCenter ( - 3.8233 , 40.609 , 10 ); Map . add ( fvLayer );