Population detection profiles of DMSP-OLS night-time imagery by regions of the world

Doll, Christopher N.H., (2010). Population detection profiles of DMSP-OLS night-time imagery by regions of the world. Proceedings of the Asia-Pacific Advanced Network, 30 190-206

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Doll, Christopher N.H.
    Title Population detection profiles of DMSP-OLS night-time imagery by regions of the world
    Appearing in Proceedings of the Asia-Pacific Advanced Network
    Volume 30
    Publication Date 2010
    Place of Publication Hong Kong
    Publisher Asia-Pacific Advanced Network Ltd.
    Start page 190
    End page 206
    Language eng
    Abstract One emerging application of night-time light imagery focuses on estimating levels of access to electricity globally (Doll & Pachauri, 2010; Elvidge et al., 2010). A central consideration of such studies is the population density which can be consistently detected from night-time light imagery. Whilst numerous studies have addressed the relationship to light and population statistics in order to predict population, the use of spatially explicit population databases allows for a more detailed description of these relationships. This paper reports the variation of different detection profiles of two publically available gridded population datasets. These are disaggregated by region to reveal a vast contrast in what we may assume to be observable population in different parts of the world. A dynamic trend emerges with respect to levels of development with the most developed nations hypothesized to be the theoretical minimum observable population density. Beyond contributing to the analysis of areas of the world without access to electricity, more fundamentally, this analysis addresses a basic question about night-time lights and how it relates to population globally and in particular the relative merits of two commonly used population databases.
    Copyright Holder Doll, Christopher N.H.
    Copyright Year 2010
    Copyright type Creative commons
    DOI 10.7125/APAN.30.22
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    Created: Fri, 20 Mar 2015, 17:27:43 JST