Evolution of the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (EvoLand) – project, results and public dissemination
The Horizon Europe EvoLand - Evolution of the Copernicus Land Service Portfolio - project aims to enhance the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) by advancing innovative methods, algorithms, and prototypes for monitoring land use/land cover dynamics and land surface characteristics at high spatial and temporal resolutions. EvoLand targets the development of eleven next-generation CLMS product candidates across Forest, Agriculture, Water, Urban and General land cover domains, leveraging cutting-edge methods such as data fusion, machine learning and continuous monitoring alongside novel Earth Observation (EO) and in-situ data sources.
The project emphasizes aligning its prototype services with policy, data, and infrastructure requirements by engaging closely with Entrusted Entities and key Copernicus Land stakeholders and users. These requirements guide all methodological developments, ensuring relevance and impact. The methods include i) the integration of relevant novel EO datasets; ii) the acquisition of fit-for-purpose in-situ and training data; as well as the development of algorithms for iii) Weakly Supervised Learning; iv) improved spatial, temporal and thematic resolution; v) continuous monitoring
(i.e. change detection and continuous land cover mapping) and vi) biomass mapping. EvoLand designs, tests, and implements algorithms on open-source, modular, and scalable platforms, using representative test sites both within Europe and globally. In the demonstration phase, these candidate services were deployed over larger regions, addressing critical thematic areas.
To ensure continuous improvement, the candidate services are systematically assessed for their innovation potential, policy relevance, technical excellence, and operational readiness. EvoLand also proposes a strategy for transitioning these services to operational use. The project’s ultimate goal is to support Entrusted Entities by delivering research-driven, tangible advancements to the CLMS. This includes enhancing the information content, quality, and timeliness of services, thereby enabling evidence-based decision-making and demonstrating the potential for the ongoing evolution of the CLMS.
