Datacubes as enablers for land take quantification in LandSupport Regions

Land take, a significant driver of land degradation, poses challenges for sustainable land management, particularly in regions under high anthropogenic pressure. Addressing these challenges necessitates robust, data-driven approaches to monitor, quantify, and mitigate land take. This contribution explores the integration of datacube technology within the LandSupport Regions platform, leveraging advances from the European LandSupport project and its extension under the Italian GeoSciences-IR project.

Raster datacubes, structured as multidimensional arrays, enable efficient management and analysis of large-scale spatio-temporal datasets, overcoming traditional file-based limitations. The LandSupport Regions platform utilizes a datacube-based Spatial Decision Support System (S-DSS) to enhance the monitoring of land consumption, land cover, and land use at multiple scales—from municipal to national levels. The system integrates heterogeneous datasets, including satellite imagery (e.g., Copernicus), regional land use maps, and environmental indicators (such as high resolution and multi-temporal imperviousness maps), within a common infrastructure, adhering to the FAIR principles.

A key focus is on land take quantification, supported by high-resolution datacubes capable of tracking land-use changes over time. The platform offers decision-makers a suite of tools for generating actionable indicators, assessing compliance with land-use policies, and proposing mitigation strategies aligned with zero net land take objectives. Moreover, the system’s interoperability and open-access characteristics allow integration of user-defined data and models, fostering innovation and scalability.

The platform’s capabilities are demonstrated through use cases in Italy, where local administrations leverage datacube analytics to refine urban and regional planning. These use cases underscore the role of datacubes in delivering accurate, timely insights for sustainable land management. By aligning regional initiatives with European Green Deal objectives, the LandSupport Regions platform – produced under the GeoSciences-IR project – exemplifies the potential of datacube-enabled S-DSSs to advance environmental governance.