U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 2005–3115

January 2006

The USGS Land Cover Institute

Printed on recycled paper

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Land Cover Institute 

(LCI) is located at the Center for Earth Resources Observation 

and Science (EROS) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It provides 

a focal point for advancing USGS land cover studies and 

applications. Satellite images and other remotely sensed data 

play an important role in this research. Land Cover scientists 

investigate new ways to use satellite images and other data to 

map land cover. They assess national and global land cover 

characteristics and monitor how—and how rapidly—land cover 

changes. They also study the economic impacts of land cover 

as well as its effects on water quality, the spread of invasive 

species, habitats and biodiversity, climate variability, and other 

environmental factors.

Scientists working in the USGS are one of the leaders in the 

study of land cover. Land cover refers to the vegetation and 

artificial structures that cover the land’s surface. Examples 

of land cover include trees, grass, crops, wetlands, water, 

buildings, and pavement.

From Land Cover to Land Use

As scientists study land cover, they are also studying land use. 

Land use involves human activities that take place on the land 

such as farming, grazing, logging, and recreation. Land cover 

is often a reflection of land use. For example, if crops cover a 

section of land, land cover scientists can assume that the land’s 

use is agricultural. However, the correlation between land cover 

and land is not always so clear. If an area of land is covered 

with trees, the possible land use could be logging, recreation, 

conservation, or something else.

Our Mission

USGS LCI is a focal point for advancing the 

science, knowledge, and applications of land 

use and land cover information. LCI’s primary 

mission is to:

• Promote the collection and scientific 

analysis of land cover data, applications, and 

production through active participation in 

national and international scientific forums.

•Conduct periodic seminars and workshops 

focused on developing innovative and 

creative ideas and strategic plans to address 

land cover research issues.

• Provide extension services, technical 

assistance, data, and information to 

LCI partners and the public.
Land Cover of the Conterminous United States

USGS researchers produced the map below of land cover in the 

conterminous United States using 1992 Landsat imagery. The 

types and patterns of land cover reflect the climate, topography, 

soils, geology, and other environmental features that have 

made various types of land use possible, and shaped settlement 

patterns and current economic activities. A generalized 

summary of the map shows that forests are the major land cover 

type, followed closely by agriculture. Urban areas represent a 

very small fraction (approximately 3%) of the conterminous 

United States.

What Can the USGS Land Cover Institute Do for You?

Technical Assistance

USGS and other agencies and organizations have produced land 

cover data to meet a wide variety of spatial needs. USGS LCI 

has been established to provide access to, and scientific and 

technical support for the use of, the application of these land 

cover data. USGS LCI assists in identifying the most accurate 

and up-to-date land cover data sets available to meet the 

continuing requirements of modern scientists, policy makers, 

and educators. USGS LCI continues to identify potential 

partnerships for the continued development of land cover data 

and applications. This is accomplished by providing links to 

organizations that distribute land cover data and to those who 

demonstrate the application of such data.

For additional information, please contact us.

The USGS Land Cover Institute Web Site

http://landcover.usgs.gov/

Nick Van Driel

LCI Director

USGS/EROS

47914 252nd Street

Sioux Falls, SD 

57198-0001

vandriel@usgs.gov

Tel: (605) 594-6007

Fax: (605) 594-6529

Christopher Barnes

LCI Specialist

SAIC, Contractor to the USGS

USGS/EROS

47914 252nd Street

Sioux Falls, SD 

57198-0001

barnes@usgs.gov

Tel: (605) 594-6917

Fax: (605) 594-6529