Human footprints dataset of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during 1990-2015

In the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP); where the ecological system is fragile and sensitive; the increasing human activities have led to a series of ecological and environmental issues and social controversies and aroused much attention in the recent years; especially the construction and operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The preparation of spatial dataset of human activity intensity is critical to analyze the impact of human activities on the alpine ecosystem of the QTP.

Furthermore; it is also very important for regulating human activities and regional sustainable development. In this paper; the human footprint index method was conducted to evaluate the intensity of human activity on QTP; which using six types of spatial data as agents of human activities; including population density; land use; grazing density; night lighting; railway and road. The spatial datasets of human activity intensity were prepared in 1990; 1995; 2000; 2005; 2010 and 2015.