Producing a geodataset that covers all of Sweden places high demands on both technology and methodology, and often requires knowledge of the Swedish landscape. Large amounts of data need to be processed, combined, and quality-assured so that the result is consistent and usable over time.
The urgency of this work is clear: on September 15, the launch of Sentinel-3C took place as planned, further strengthening Europe’s Earth observation capabilities. However, satellite data only becomes valuable once it is processed and converted into usable information.
Metria produces and manages several national geodata sets on behalf of Swedish government agencies. These datasets are used in areas such as climate adaptation, biodiversity, urban planning, forestry, and emergency services.
Here are four examples that show how satellite data and other geodata are processed into nationwide information and decision-making tools.
National Land Cover Data (NMD) is one of the geodatasets that Metria produces and manages on behalf of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
NMD is a nationwide geodataset that describes the composition of Sweden’s land surface—for example, where forests, built-up areas, water bodies, wetlands, the sea, and open land are located. The information can be used as a basis by anyone working with biodiversity, sustainable land use, ecosystem services, urban planning, or climate and vulnerability.
The dataset is based on data from the European Sentinel satellites, laser data, and thematic data from various government agencies. To transform these large datasets into a unified mapping of all of Sweden, Metria combines remote sensing, machine learning, and knowledge of the Swedish landscape. The results are processed, classified, and quality-assured before delivery.
NMD is made available as open data by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
Since 2022, Metria has been producing an annual national heat map on behalf of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MCF).
The map covers all of Sweden and shows the highest land surface temperature during the summer period from June 1 to August 31. The information can be used to identify both areas with high temperatures and areas with a cooling effect, including as a basis for municipalities’ climate adaptation efforts.
The heat map is based on data from the Landsat satellite, whose thermal sensor measures surface temperature. Producing a reliable, nationwide map requires specialized expertise in the handling and analysis of satellite data.
The heat maps are made available as open data by MCF.
Learn more about the heat maps at MCF. →
Since 2007, Metria has produced satellite image mosaics for the national satellite image archive Saccess on behalf of Lantmäteriet almost every year.
The archive contains nationwide satellite imagery of Sweden from every decade since the 1970s. Saccess makes it possible to study how the Swedish landscape has changed over five decades. The information can be used in areas such as agriculture and forestry, climate and environmental analysis, and urban planning.
In recent years, production has been based primarily on data from the European Sentinel-2 satellites. Creating uniform, nationwide satellite image mosaics requires both the processing of large amounts of satellite data and specialized expertise in remote sensing.
Saccess is made available as open data by Lantmäteriet.
On behalf of MCF, Metria has developed and produced a nationwide fire fuel classification.
The survey focuses primarily on the fire susceptibility of forest vegetation. Among other things, the information can provide emergency services and county administrative boards with an overview of where there are larger contiguous areas of fire-prone vegetation. It can be used as a basis for decision-making during ongoing operations and in analyses following a fire.
The fire fuel classification is an example of how a geodataset can be used as a basis for creating new and more specialized information. In this case, the National Land Cover Data serves as the foundation. Metria thus builds upon an existing national dataset and combines it with knowledge of forest vegetation and established methodology for land cover data.
The fire fuel classification is made available as open data by MCF.
The four examples have different applications, but what they have in common is the need to process and refine large amounts of raw data into consistent and quality-assured geographic information.
This work requires a high level of expertise in areas such as remote sensing, machine learning, classification, and quality assurance—as well as an understanding of how different types of geodata can be combined and used to meet various needs.
Metria draws on this expertise when we help government agencies and businesses transform geographic data into information that can be used for analysis and as a basis for decision-making.
Learn more about Metria’s geodata and mapping services. → Mapping services and geodata from Metria
Metria offers digital solutions and services in GIS, geodata, real estate, and business information. Our offering covers the entire process—from identifying our customers’ needs for geodata, real estate, and business information to collecting, analyzing, and visualizing data to generate insights that lead to smarter, safer, and greener decisions.
Since spring 2022, Metria has been part of Spir Group, a Nordic group with approximately 260 employees in Norway and Sweden.
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