Land Cover

Land cover describes how different administrative units are used or covered by forests, grasslands, water, or built-up areas. While it may not directly show how attractive a place is, land cover can still give us useful clues. For example, areas with more natural landscapes or less urban development might appeal more to people looking for peace, nature, or outdoor activities.

In this section, you can explore an interactive map showing land cover across Lazio region and the Turano Valley specifically. The data comes from the Copernicus CLMS product - CLC+ Backbone, a dataset from the European land monitoring programme.

Click on any area on the map to see what types of land cover it includes and how much of each type is present. This can help us better understand how the landscape might influence the attractiveness of different places in the valley.

Do you have any ideas about the following data? Download the GREENGAGE app and take part in the observatory by sharing your observations, which will be considered by local partners.

Green Areas

Green areas include forests, grasslands, and other places covered with natural vegetation. These spaces are important for the environment, but they also play a big role in how attractive a place feels, offering beauty, fresh air, and opportunities for walking, hiking, or simply enjoying nature.

This interactive map shows the percentage of green areas across the Lazio region, including the Turano Valley. The data is based on the Copernicus CLC+ Backbone dataset, which combines different types of land cover such as low-growing plants, bushes, and both permanent and seasonal grasslands. A time slider lets you see what share of the land is covered by green areas in a given year.

Imperviousness

Impervious surfaces are areas where the land is covered by materials like concrete, asphalt, or buildings, things that prevent water from soaking into the ground. High levels of imperviousness usually mean more urban development and less green space. This can affect how attractive an area feels, especially for people who value nature, quiet, and open landscapes. In this interactive map, you can explore the percentage of impervious surfaces in different parts of the region. You can dive deeper via learning more about Copernicus Imperviousness High Resolution Layer.

The data shows how much of each area is covered by artificial surfaces, helping us understand where the landscape is more built-up or more natural. A time slider is available, allowing you to see how imperviousness has changed over the years. This can provide insights into patterns of development and land use, whether areas are becoming more urbanized or staying more natural.

NO₂ spatial distribution across road networks and infrastructure

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is an air pollutant mainly produced by road traffic, especially from cars and trucks on major highways. High levels of NO₂ can affect air quality and health, which in turn may influence how attractive an area is to live in, particularly for families, older adults, or anyone who values clean, healthy environments. In this section, you can explore an interactive map showing the average NO₂ levels over several years. The values are based on weekly measurements and provide a long-term view of air quality across the region. If you are interested in Copernicus air quality data, and you can read more about Copernicus CAMS charts.

The map includes two layers with sliders:

• One shows the main highways, which are the main sources of NO₂ pollution.
• The other shows the average NO₂ concentrations in surrounding areas.

By using the slider, you can compare the placement of major roads with NO₂ pollution levels and see how they relate. This helps us understand how traffic and air quality may impact the perceived and actual attractiveness of different parts of the Turano Valley and nearby areas. You can also check GREENGAGE project deliverables to get more details about GREENGAGE tools, and sustainability best practices in urban development.