The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) collects, maintains, and shares land use data to help the region understand the past and plan for the future. Knowing how land use in an area has changed over time can help us understand policy and development impacts on air and water quality, economic development, jobs, housing, human health, wildlife habitat, and much more. Download land use data from the CMAP Data Hub. CMAP data tools Imagery Explorer The Imagery Explorer showcases CMAP’s large collection of aerial photographs of northeastern Illinois from 1970 through 1995. The archive includes 6,300 images in 6 of the region’s counties. Imagery Explorer Land Use Inventory The Land Use Inventory is a survey of northeastern Illinois’ land use in a geographic information system format. It identifies up to 50 different land categories in the region. Land Use Inventory Northeastern Illinois Development Database The Northeastern Illinois Development Database tracks significant developments across the seven-county region. The database records projects meeting specific criteria, documenting land consumption, number of housing units, non-residential square footage, and land use types. Northeastern Illinois Development Database Federal land use and land cover data The Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium coordinates and creates national land cover information for environmental, land management, and modeling purposes. The website includes data and tools from various federal agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and more. On this page CMAP data toolsFederal land use and land cover data Related data and resources Click to read Community Data Snapshots Click to read Community Data Snapshots Regional spotlight Click to read New data to help communities make informed housing decisions Click to read New data to help communities make informed housing decisions Click to read Communities encouraged to update the Northeastern Illinois Development Database Click to read Grand Avenue Corridor Plan: A new vision for Franklin Park’s future Click to read Communities invited to apply for local planning assistance Data Update Newsletter sign-up Opens in a modal