Google Earth Engine Tutorial: Download Global Land Cover Data 10m

Introduction

The Global Land Cover Data at 10m resolution is a critical resource for environmental monitoring, urban planning, and ecological research. Leveraging Google Earth Engine (GEE), GIS specialists can efficiently access, analyze, and export this data. This tutorial outlines the steps to retrieve and download the ESA WorldCover v100 dataset, which offers 10m spatial resolution and is publicly available.

Steps to Download Global Land Cover Data 10m Using Google Earth Engine

To begin, ensure you have a Google Earth Engine account and the JavaScript API enabled. Open the Code Editor by visiting the GEE website and logging in.

1. Load the Dataset

Use the following code to load the ESA WorldCover dataset:


var worldCover = ee.Image("ESA/WorldCover/v100");


2. Select the Land Cover Band

The dataset includes a ‘Map’ band representing land cover classifications. Extract this band using:


var landCover = worldCover.select('Map');


3. Define Export Parameters

Specify the export region, scale, and format. For example:


var region = ee.Geometry.Rectangle([minLon, minLat, maxLon, maxLat]);
var scale = 10;
var crs = 'EPSG:4326';


4. Export the Image

Use the Export.image.toDrive function to download the data:


Export.image.toDrive({
image: landCover,
description: 'Global_Land_Cover',
folder: 'GEE_Exports',
fileNamePrefix: 'landCover_10m',
region: region,
scale: scale,
crs: crs,
maxPixels: 1e10
});


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