LUCAS and Copernicus. Two variables in the European geodata scene. They both describe programs for the provision of pan-European land use and land cover information. Each program has its own history, its own intention and its own justification. The Land Use/Cover Area Frame Survey, in short LUCAS [Link intern nn], is a European-wide survey that provides comparable statistics on land use and land cover on the basis of a systematic area sampling. The surveyed points are analysed statistically by the European commission.
The goal of Copernicus, previously known as GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security), is the establishment of a European infrastructure for environmental monitoring. Copernicus has a fleet of earth observation satellites to produce specific geoinformation services.
Therefore, LUCAS and Copernicus are two completely different programs. On behalf of the European Topic Centre Urban, Land and Soil (ETC/ULS) and the European Environmental Agency (EEA), EFTAS analysed the interfaces of these two programs with regard to the aspect of monitoring. How do these two programs fit together with regard to temporal, thematic and spatial processes as well as data models?
The study proved that LUCAS can make a contribution to the Copernicus program. On the basis of the results, recommendations were made for the improvement and harmonisation of different data models and processes. Not only were further empirical analyses proposed, but it was also initiated to provide results to the EAGLE working group (Eionet [European Environment Information and Observation Network] Action Group on Land monitoring in Europe). This group advocates the harmonisation of geoinformation on land cover on a European level.
