WorldCover Viewer

Purpose and user intent: The WorldCover Viewer enables researchers, planners, and educators to explore ESA WorldCover maps for any region, supporting rapid assessment of land cover classes and informing reporting workflows. It emphasizes reproducible region-based insights and simple export paths for GIS or analytics pipelines.
Core logic and features: The tool uses tile-based access to WorldCover data, supports multiple CRSs, and allows version selection and AOI clipping. Required inputs include AOI, CRS, and dataset version; optional inputs include masks and export preferences. It provides class-based area statistics, visualization options, and formats suitable for GIS, dashboards, and reporting.
Inputs and outputs: Users supply an AOI geometry, target CRS, and WorldCover version; outputs include clipped rasters, per-class area in hectares, and export files (GeoTIFF, PNG, CSV) compatible with GIS workflows.
Algorithms and calculations: Area by class is computed as the sum of pixel areas per class within the AOI, with pixel area derived from the chosen CRS and resolution. Reprojection is performed as needed; tiles are cached for performance, and provenance metadata is attached to outputs.
Error handling and edge cases: If tiles are missing or region extends beyond data extents, partial results are returned with notes on missing extents. Invalid inputs trigger data-structure errors rather than UI prompts. Localization uses metric units (hectares) and popular GIS CRSs; licensing constraints apply to data sources.
Assumptions and exclusions: Assumes internet access and tile availability; not designed for real-time sensor fusion, 3D visualization, or offline operation. The tool focuses on standard land cover classification workflows and interoperability with GIS analysis.