NASA's land use and land cover classification data provides a way to discern and measure the type, location, use, and extent of natural and human-made features across Earth. For example, such data could be used to describe the size of farmland in a country, the interface between urban and forest areas, or the expanse of a wetland. These data could be important details for estimating how much food a region can yield, preventing or fighting forest fires, and protecting wildlife and public health.

NASA has an array of instruments and data that support classifying land use and land cover, enabling researchers and decision-makers to quickly and accurately assess the characteristics of land and its current state and use.