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GHSL

Global Human Settlement Layer provides global built-up area mapping and population density data for urban analysis.

Data Content

Category Content Examples
Built-up Areas Urban and rural settlement mapping City centers, suburban areas, rural settlements
Population Density Gridded population estimates High-density urban cores, medium-density suburbs
Built-up Volume 3D building height and volume data High-rise districts, low-rise residential areas
Settlement Classification Urban/rural typology Large urban areas, small towns, rural settlements
Temporal Evolution Historical settlement changes Urban expansion patterns, growth trajectories

Applications in CityPortraits

Application Area Use Cases
Urban Extent Mapping City boundary delineation, urban growth monitoring, sprawl analysis
Population Distribution Demographic density mapping, urban population estimation, settlement patterns
Built Environment Analysis Building density assessment, urban morphology studies, vertical development analysis
Change Detection Historical urban transformation, development trend analysis, land use change monitoring

Data Sources

Integration

GHSL data is combined with OSM for street network analysis and census data for demographic validation.