The Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) project produces new global spatial information, evidence-based analytics and knowledge describing the human presence on Earth. It operates in a fully open and free data and methods access policy. The knowledge generated with the GHSL is supporting the definition, the public discussion and the implementation of European policies and the monitoring of international frameworks such as the 2030 Development Agenda. GHSL data continue to support the GEO Human Planet Initiative that is committed to developing a new generation of measurements and information products providing new scientific evidence and a comprehensive understanding of the human presence on the planet and that can support global policy processes with agreed, actionable and goal-driven metrics.
This document presents the Global Human Settlement – Open Building Attribute Table (GHS-OBAT). The dataset is based on GHSL Data Package 2023, which constitute its source information, here brought to the level of individual building footprints. Easily accessible building footprint vector datasets with global coverage are on the rise, yet they primarily consist of footprint polygons with minimal thematic details. In this context, we describe a comprehensive data integration initiative aimed at associating thematic attributes with buildings, derived from the dataset of 2.3 billion building geometries that are freely available (Overture maps). Specifically, we gather data regarding the building construction epoch, building height, building function (i.e., residential/non-residential), and building compactness (expressed as shape factor) from open-source datasets included in the Global Human Settlement Layer data suite. The attributes at the footprint level were acquired through vector-raster integration, specifically utilizing zonal statistics at the building feature level. The comprehensive global coverage of this dataset offers significant insights across various fields, including disaster risk management, urbanisation, energy transition and climate mitigation, affordable housing and renovation, urban design, real estate, and much more.
FLORIO Pietro;
POLITIS Panagiotis;
KRASNODEBSKA Katarzyna;
UHL Johannes H.;
MELCHIORRI Michele;
MARTINEZ Ana;
KAKOULAKI Georgia;
PESARESI Martino;
KEMPER Thomas;
2025-01-31
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC140737
978-92-68-24173-8 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 40214,
OP KJ-01-25-062-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC140737,
10.2760/4854352 (online),
