Terrascope: LANDSAT Ortho Mosaics for the 1970s, 1990, and 2000
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Description
Terrascope is a Google Earth implementation of LANDSAT MSS, TM, and ETM+ ortho mosaics for the 1970s, circa 1990, and circa 2000. It provides imagery as superoverlays with resolutions of 57 metres/pixel for the 1970s, 28.5 metres/pixel for circa 1990, and 14.25 metres/pixel for circa 2000. The project is sourced from KCL and Mark Mulligan and is designed to allow rapid visual comparison of land cover change across these periods.
Use Cases
Visual change detection for desertification based on multi-decade LANDSAT imagery.
Monitoring urbanisation patterns based on historical ortho mosaics from the 1970s to 2000.
Assessing coastal, fluvial, and water body changes based on time-series satellite imagery.
Awareness raising for habitat loss hotspots based on visual comparison of land cover.
Conservation prioritisation based on observed historical land use change.
Strengths
Provides imagery at three distinct time periods: the 1970s, circa 1990, and circa 2000.
Offers specific spatial resolutions: 57 metres/pixel for the 1970s, 28.5 metres/pixel for circa 1990, and 14.25 metres/pixel for circa 2000.
Includes metadata layers for the 1990 dataset, such as image names and dates of capture.
Limitations
Data quality and resolution are reduced for older imagery, and some parts of the globe are missing.
Row count, file formats, and license information are unknown.
Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
Provenance
Source
KCL, Mark Mulligan
Collection Method
Ortho mosaics processed from LANDSAT MSS, TM, and ETM+ satellite imagery.
Time Range
1970s, circa 1990, circa 2000
Geography
Most of the world, though coverage may be incomplete.
The dataset is implemented within Google Earth as superoverlays; access requires Google Earth software.