The Earth Observation Data for Habitat Monitoring (EODHaM) system

•Through the FP7 BIO_SOS project, we developed the EODHaM system for monitoring of habitats in protected areas and surrounds using earth observation (EO) data and expert knowledge.•Tailoring of the rule set used is needed based on expert knowledge.•The system can ingest data from any sensor and be applied at any scale to any site globally.•The classification scheme used is the FAO Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) with translation to General Habitat Categories (GHCs) and Annex I Habitat types.•Modules are included for identifying changes in class codes, extracted features, object dimensions and EO data. To support decisions relating to the use and conservation of protected areas and surrounds, the EU-funded BIOdiversity multi-SOurce monitoring System: from Space TO Species (BIO_SOS) project has developed the Earth Observation Data for HAbitat Monitoring (EODHaM) system for consistent mapping and monitoring of biodiversity. The EODHaM approach has adopted the Food and Agriculture Organization Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) taxonomy and translates mapped classes to General Habitat Categories (GHCs) from which Annex I habitats (EU Habitats Directive) can be defined. The EODHaM system uses a combination of pixel and object-based procedures. The 1st and 2nd stages use earth observation (EO) data alone with expert knowledge to generate classes according to the LCCS taxonomy (Levels 1 to 3 and beyond). The 3rd stage translates the final LCCS classes into GHCs from which Annex I habitat type maps are derived. An additional module quantifies changes in the LCCS classes and their components, indices derived from earth observation, object sizes and dimensions and the translated habitat maps (i.e., GHCs or Annex I). Examples are provided of the application of EODHaM system elements to protected sites and their surrounds in Italy, Wales (UK), the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal and India.