Annual NLCD Land Cover Classification
Notice to users: The Annual NLCD product release is planned for late October 2024. At that time further content, such as product documentation and full access to data products, will become available and referenced from this site.
The primary NLCD land cover product represents the predominant thematic land cover class within the mapping year with respect to broad categories of artificial or natural surface cover.
The annual NLCD land cover dataset uses a modified Anderson Level II classification system with 16 land cover classes. This classification system is derived from the original Anderson land use and land cover classification system, which was designed as a compromise among the need for compatibility with existing classification systems across U.S. federal agencies, separability using primarily remote sensing data, and logical, hierarchical relationships among classes (1).
Annual NLCD Land Cover Legend
These classes only include CONUS.
Data Access
Products can be accessed via the data access page.
Documents
Additional information on Annual NLCD methods and science products can be found in the Science User Product Guide.
Annual NLCD Data Citation
Annual NLCD has no restrictions on the use of science products. Annual NLCD does ask that if you use the data as part of a publication or presentation that you use the following citation below; however, it is not a requirement to use the data.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 2024, Annual NLCD Collection 1 Science Products: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P94UXNTS
References
- Anderson, J.R., Hardy, E.E., Roach, J.T., and Witmer, R.E., 1976. A land use and land cover classification system for use with remote sensor data. Professional Paper 964, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington DC, U.S. Government Printing Office. 10.3133/pp964.
Back to the Annual NLCD Product Suite page.
Notice to users: The Annual NLCD product release is planned for late October 2024. At that time further content, such as product documentation and full access to data products, will become available and referenced from this site.
The primary NLCD land cover product represents the predominant thematic land cover class within the mapping year with respect to broad categories of artificial or natural surface cover.
The annual NLCD land cover dataset uses a modified Anderson Level II classification system with 16 land cover classes. This classification system is derived from the original Anderson land use and land cover classification system, which was designed as a compromise among the need for compatibility with existing classification systems across U.S. federal agencies, separability using primarily remote sensing data, and logical, hierarchical relationships among classes (1).
Annual NLCD Land Cover Legend
These classes only include CONUS.
Data Access
Products can be accessed via the data access page.
Documents
Additional information on Annual NLCD methods and science products can be found in the Science User Product Guide.
Annual NLCD Data Citation
Annual NLCD has no restrictions on the use of science products. Annual NLCD does ask that if you use the data as part of a publication or presentation that you use the following citation below; however, it is not a requirement to use the data.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 2024, Annual NLCD Collection 1 Science Products: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P94UXNTS
References
- Anderson, J.R., Hardy, E.E., Roach, J.T., and Witmer, R.E., 1976. A land use and land cover classification system for use with remote sensor data. Professional Paper 964, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington DC, U.S. Government Printing Office. 10.3133/pp964.
Back to the Annual NLCD Product Suite page.