WSF® Raster Access
The WSF Tracker raster is freely available as a cloud-native GeoZarr dataset, published openly via Source Cooperative, ready to access programmatically without any authentication. Head to the Source Cooperative WSF page or use the direct Zarr URL below to get started.
Getting started
The WSF Tracker raster dataset is freely and openly available via Source Cooperative, hosted by MindEarth.
Dataset page: source.coop/mindearth/wsf
What's available
The dataset is published as a cloud-native GeoZarr (Zarr v3) at 10 m native resolution, covering the globe biannually from July 2016 onwards. It is designed to support analysis of where built-up areas emerge over time and to enable scalable access to global settlement information in a format suitable for cloud-native geospatial workflows. The dataset is updated biannually as new WSF Tracker raster data becomes available. This GeoZarr currently contains thewsf_trackervariable and is structured to accommodate additional variables in future releases, such as wsf_population.
How to access it
The GeoZarr is publicly readable at:
https://source.coop/mindearth/wsf/World_WSF_20160701-20260101.zarrIt can be accessed programmatically using Python libraries such asxarray,zarr, andobstore— no authentication required. The dataset includes a multiscale pyramid (levels 0–12); use group0for analysis at native resolution.
For full technical documentation, code examples, and data model details, refer to the README on the dataset page linked above.
Citation
If you use this dataset, please cite the World Settlement Footprint (WSF) Tracker and acknowledge MindEarth as the data provider.
Dataset DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20424537Related Publications
Rentschler, Jun; Klaiber, Christoph; Zhu, Mengjue; Marconcini, Mattia. 2026. Urban Expansion and Protection Gaps amid Evolving Flood Exposure. Policy Research Working Paper; 11321. © World Bank. License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.