Growing public awareness about satellite remote sensing can be attributed to the success of global geoportals that facilitate capturing of space-borne imagery from any place on the earth. Use of geo-portals in land-cover mapping has made mapping an easy process. Moreover, technological advancements in mass computing, the ability to store and process large amounts of data, and global earth observation capabilities have opened the door to multiple initiatives in land-cover mapping on a global scale, and more can be expected in the near future.
Defourny, P.; Mayaux, P.; Herold, M.; Bontemps, S. (2012). Global Land-Cover Map Validation Experiences : Toward the Characterization of Quantitative Uncertainty. In : Remote Sensing of Land Use and Land Cover : Principles and Applications, p. 207-223.
