World Settlement Footprint (WSF)
WSF from DLR is a global 10m resolution built-up/not-built-up mask derived from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 imagery using deep learning.
Format
GeoTIFF
Geometry
Raster (settlement mask)
Coverage
Global
Resolution
~10m
About this dataset
DLR's global settlement mask at ~10m resolution distinguishing built-up from non-built-up areas using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2.
The World Settlement Footprint (WSF) from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) provides a global binary settlement mask at ~10m resolution. It uses Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 optical imagery with machine learning to distinguish built-up land from natural surfaces, offering the finest free global settlement classification available.
How to download
- 1 Open the DLR WSF download page.
- 2 Select the 10m global raster tiles for your area of interest.
- 3 Download the GeoTIFF settlement mask.
- 4 Open in GIS and classify (1 = built-up, 0 = non-built-up) for urban extent analysis.
FAQ
Difference between WSF and GHSL built-up?
WSF provides a binary settlement mask at 10m using Sentinel imagery, while GHSL offers built-up area percentage at 30m-1km with multi-temporal data.
Can I use WSF with building footprint data?
Yes. WSF identifies which areas are built-up at the pixel level, while building footprints provide individual building polygons.