Master sampling frame used for Flanders Ecosystem Extent accounting

The dataset is provided as a geoTiff raster file. Each raster cell contains an integer valued unique ranking number. The ranking number is derived from a generalized random tesselation sample (GRTS) and corresponds one-to-one with the GRTS master sample published as an sqlite database in 10.5281/zenodo.2784012. The sqlite database stores a square raster of size 2^15 x 2^15. We have restricted the region of interest of the geoTiff to a smaller bounding box covering Flanders: crs = EPSG:31370 bounding box: xmin = 20000 xmax = 259000 ymin = 153000 ymax = 250000 The resolution of the provided raster layer is 10 m in both directions. The ranking number can be used to draw spatially balanced samples of size n for strata within the bounding box by sorting the ranks from low to high and selecting the n lowest ranks (after cropping the raster file with the boundaries of the stratum). This dataset is published as part of the FLanders Ecosystem Accounting (FLEA) project. The main purpose of the dataset is its use in selecting spatially balanced samples that are used for the dual goal of validation and area estimation for land cover and land use state and change maps.