Land Use/Land Cover Mapping

Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) mapping is one of the foundational raster analysis capabilities of GeoRetina AI. This guide demonstrates how to perform LULC analysis using Google's Dynamic World dataset.

What is LULC Mapping?

Land Use/Land Cover mapping classifies Earth's surface into different categories based on satellite imagery. These categories typically include:

• Water
• Trees/Forests
• Grass/Shrubs
• Crops/Agriculture
• Built-up areas/Urban
• Bare ground
• Snow/Ice

LULC maps help understand environmental changes, urban growth, deforestation, and other critical landscape dynamics.

Using GRAI for LULC Analysis

1. Define Your Region and Time Period

After selecting your ROI, you can request a LULC analysis by specifying the time period.

For example, you might ask:

Generate a land use/land cover map for this region using Google Dynamic World data for summer 2024.

2. Refine Your Query

GRAI may ask you to clarify or provide additional parameters:

• Specific date range
• Resolution level
• Particular land cover types of interest

3. Analyzing LULC Results

Once processed, GRAI will display your LULC map directly on the interface:

The map is color-coded according to the Dynamic World classification system:

4. Additional Analysis

GRAI allows you to go beyond basic visualization with additional analytical capabilities:

• Calculate area percentages for each land cover type
• Compare LULC changes between different time periods
• Identify specific patterns (e.g., urban expansion, deforestation)
• Export results for use in external applications

Examples of LULC Applications

• Urban Planning: Identify development patterns and available green space
• Conservation: Monitor protected areas and detect encroachment
• Agriculture: Assess crop distributions and health
• Climate Research: Track changes in forests, wetlands, and other carbon sinks
• Disaster Response: Map affected areas after floods, fires, or other events

Next Steps

After mastering LULC analysis, consider exploring:

• Urban Heat Island Analysis
• LULC Change Detection
• Combining LULC with Vector Data