A Robust Method to Generate a Consistent Time Series from DMSP/OLS Nighttime Light Data

Qingling Zhang, Bhartendu Pandey, Karen C. Seto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

146 Scopus citations

Abstract

The long time series of nighttime light (NTL) data collected by DMSP/OLS sensors provides a unique and valuable resource to study changes in human activities. However, its full time series potential has not been fully explored, mainly due to inconsistencies in the temporal signal. Previous studies have tried to resolve this issue in order to generate a consistent NTL time series. However, due to geographic limitations with the algorithms, these approaches cannot generate a coherent NTL time series globally. The purpose of this study is to develop a methodology to create a consistent NTL time series that can be applied globally. Our method is based on a novel sampling strategy to identify pseudoinvariant features. We select data points along a ridgeline-the densest part of a density plot generated between the reference image and the target image-and then use those data points to derive calibration models to minimize inconsistencies in the NTL time series. Results show that the algorithm successfully calibrates DMSP/OLS annual composites and generates a consistent NTL time series. Evaluation of the results shows that the calibrated NTL time series significantly reduces the differences between two images within the same year and increases the correlations between the NTL time series and gross domestic product as well as with energy consumption, and outperforms the Elvidge et al. (2014) method. The methodology is simple, robust, and easy to implement. The quality-enhanced NTL time series can be used in a myriad of applications that require a consistent data set over time.

Original languageEnglish
Article number7490418
Pages (from-to)5821-5831
Number of pages11
JournalIEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing
Volume54
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Calibration sites
  • intersensor calibration
  • ridge regression
  • ridge sampling and regression
  • ridgeline sampling regression (RSR)
  • satellite image normalization

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A Robust Method to Generate a Consistent Time Series from DMSP/OLS Nighttime Light Data'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this