Annual human footprint maps at 100-meter resolution from 1990 to 2020 for Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

This Human footprint product is the first annual dataset with a resolution of 100 meters from 1990 to 2020 covering the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). It integrates eight variables: population density, cropland, built environments, grazing activities, nighttime lights, roads, railways, and hydroelectric projects, each providing insights into various human impacts on the plateau. Additionally, the dataset's accuracy was assessed using 1,043 samples with a median resolution of 0.5 m, uniformly distributed across the QTP. These HF maps can serve as a critical tool for understanding the extensive human influence on the QTP, and can aid in conservation planning, resource management, and informing decision-making processes related to ecological restoration objectives.