Global mapping of human settlements faces particular challenges due to the spatial and spectral heterogeneity of urban environments. Focusing on the global and regional scales, this book provides a comprehensive overview of experiences, methodologies, data sets, applications to population mapping and approaches related to the use of remotely sensed data to map human settlements. With the aid of a CD-ROM, it includes samples of the latest products and shows how remote sensing can be used to improve the knowledge of urban planners beyond the local scale. This comprehensive text summarizes the state of the art in global mapping and the future implications that need to be addressed for continued sustainment of this growing technology.