The European settlement map 2017 release : methodology and output of the European settlement map (ESM2p5m)

The European Settlement Map 2017 (ESM2p5m) is the latest release of the European Settlement Map (ESM) produced in the frame of the URBA project [WPK Id 1193]. The ESM products were financed by the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) and exploit the Copernicus core 003 dataset made of satellite images SPOT5 and SPOT6 ranging from 2010 to 2013. The first ESM product was released in July 2014, followed by peer-revived publication of a built-up layer with an unprecedented detailed resolution and a gap free European wallto- wall coverage. Two years later (in 2016), the ESM2016 was released. The built-up accuracy improved through a benchmarking process with population data (GEOSTAT 2011 v2), ensuring as much as possible consistency between resident population and built-up. The ESM2p5m is a new step ahead, with an augmented detail and higher resolution (2.5m), which includes 11 new classes in addition to built-up. The ESM2p5m at 2.5 meter resolution complement the built-up with other classes such as green, water, streets, and railways organized in two macro groups: in-built-up-area and out-built-up-area. The ESM2p5m offers new opportunities in Earth observation related research. The 2.5m resolution allows studying urbanisation and related features across Europe in urban and rural areas, from continental to country perspective, from regional to local, until single blocks. The report describes ESM2p5m's features and presents the results of the validation process.