National Land Cover Database (NLCD) 1992/2001 Retrofit Land Cover Change Product Multi-zone Download Site

New developments in mapping methodology, new sources of input data, and changes in the mapping legend for the 2001 National Land Cover Database (NLCD 2001) will confound any direct comparison between NLCD 2001 and the 1992 National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD 1992). Users are cautioned that direct comparison of these two independently created land cover products is not recommended. This NLCD 1992/2001 Retrofit Land Cover Change Product was developed to offer users more accurate direct change analysis between the two products.

The NLCD 1992/2001 Retrofit Land Cover Change Product uses a specially developed methodology to provide land cover change information at the Anderson Level I classification scale (Anderson et al., 1976), relying on decision tree classification of Landsat imagery from 1992 and 2001. Unchanged pixels between the two dates are coded with the NLCD 2001 Anderson Level I class code, while changed pixels are labeled with a "from-to" land cover change value (Change Code Table). Additional detail is available in the metadata included in the multizone downloadable zip file. This product is designed for regional application only and is not recommended for local scales.

The 65 CONUS mapping zones (excluding Alaska) have been grouped into 14 larger zonal areas to facilitate distribution and download. A mouse click on an area of interest will follow the link to the multizone download site. A shapefile with the standard NLCD zone attributes and multizone attributes is also available. Access the Retrofit Land Cover Change Product download site.