Explore cutting-edge Earth observation techniques and data science applications in urban mapping during this 1-hour 21-minute webinar presented by Prof. Xiaoxiang Zhu for the IEEE Signal Processing Society. Delve into the importance of Earth observation in the Big Data era and its role in addressing global urbanization challenges. Learn about innovative technologies like the Global Urban Footprint, radar tomography, and the Planet Lab initiative. Discover how data science approaches are revolutionizing settlement type classification and urban mapping on a global scale. Gain insights into future visions for urban monitoring, data acquisition methods, and local climate classification. The webinar concludes with a discussion on ethical considerations and an interactive Q&A session with the audience.