EOC Geoservice SoilSuite

The EOC Geoservice SoilSuite offers a specialized collection of image data products, providing detailed information on the spectral and statistical properties of European soils and other bare surfaces, such as rocks. This dataset is generated by DLR's Soil Composite Mapping Processor (ScMAP), which systematically utilizes the extensive Sentinel-2 data archive. The products are derived from scenes recorded across Europe between January 2018 and December 2022, forming a comprehensive 5-year composite.

ScMAP functions as a dedicated processing chain designed for the large-scale detection and analysis of bare soils and surfaces across the continent. It employs a combined NDVI and NBR index (PVIR2) to effectively identify bare surface and soil pixels, while optimizing the exclusion of both photosynthetically active and non-active vegetation. The processing rigorously removes clouds, haze, and snow effects at both scene and pixel levels. All spectral data products are available at a 20-meter pixel size and include 10 Sentinel-2 bands.

The SoilSuite encompasses a variety of products, including a "Mask" that aggregates simple landcover classes like bare surface occurrences, permanent vegetation, and other surfaces. It also features "Bare Surface Reflectance Composites" (Mean, Standard Deviation, and 95% Confidence) which are valuable for spectral and digital soil mapping. Additional products include a "Bare Surface Frequency Product" and a "Bare Surface Count Product," providing insights into the temporal dynamics and occurrences of bare soil.