The Portuguese Land Cover Monitoring System (SMOS): from research and development (R&D) to operations

Abstract

The Portuguese Land Cover Monitoring System SMOS (Sistema de Monitorização da Ocupação do Solo) is an initiative conceived and developed by Direção-Geral do Território (DGT) with the aim of continuously produce reference and thematic cartographic products on land use land cover for continental Portugal. SMOS is a collaborative and multifunctional system that involves the Public Administration, the national scientific and technological system, the private sector and the citizen, guided by user needs and open data policy. SMOS represents a paradigm shift in cartography production and uses the latest developments in space technologies and Artificial Intelligence to create maps with more detail, quality and promptness. Here, SMOS is presented, including the initial steps leading to the implementation of the system, its organization and governance, cartographic products and viewers, and foreseen developments.