Global settlement patterns are changing faster and more complexly than many expect. EO Data is essential to understand and manage these changes.
The latest World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs shows that both megacities and small to medium-sized cities are growing rapidly. This growth puts pressure on infrastructure, land use, and urban planning, while increasing exposure to risks from natural hazards and impacting sustainable development.
High-quality, globally harmonized data is essential to understand and manage these changes. That’s where GeoVille comes in. Being contracted by the JRC, GeoVille together with its partners CLS, Vypno, DLR, and GAF AG, produced the EMC‑Built 2022 of the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL). The EMC‑Built provides high‑resolution global data on built‑up areas that is precise, consistent, and internationally comparable.
The EMC-Built Layer 2022 enables:
Accurate exposure mapping and risk assessment
Evidence-based decision-making for urban planning and international development
Tracking and understanding urban growth over time
These data are based on satellite observations and integrate with the Global Human Settlement Layer from the Copernicus Emergency Management Service, a global standard for settlement analysis. The dataset was officially launched at the EU Science for Preparedness Conference 2025 in Turin.
With this data, urbanization becomes measurable and manageable. Cities can better assess risk, design infrastructure efficiently, and develop sustainable strategies. The EMC-Built Layer 2022 demonstrates how GeoVille and its partners transform satellite data into actionable insights for cities and decision-makers worldwide.
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