A Copernicus pipeline to create a highly resolved land cover map for modelling urban biodiversity in European cities

Ecological models can provide planners with important information to integrate the needs of animals and plants into urban planning processes, thereby contributing to improving biodiversity and human well-being in cities. These models require urban land cover maps with high spatial (1-10 m) and thematic resolution (e.g., discriminating trees from shrubs). The generalization of the models relies on the widespread availability of similar land cover maps. While the EU's Copernicus program is a first step, a highly resolved map with European extent is still lacking. We demonstrate how to leverage Copernicus geospatial thematic datasets to create a unified land cover map for ecological analyses in cities. A processing pipeline for a land cover map depicting the land covers impacting species occurrence at a high spatial resolution is described. Based on a literature review, we first define criteria for such a land cover map. We then•Identify suitable Copernicus datasets,•Combine Copernicus layers into a land cover map with high spatial and thematic resolution,•Perform an accuracy assessment on the land cover map to ensure sufficient quality.By making standardized land cover maps for urban ecological modelling more accessible, this methodology contributes to the mainstreaming of data-driven ecological models in urban planning.