Using Satellite Data on Nighttime Lights Intensity to Estimate Contemporary Human Migration Distances. Issue 3 (4th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Niedomysl, Thomas; Hall, Ola; Archila Bustos, Maria Francisca; Ernstson, Ulf
• Is Part Of: Annals of the American Association of Geographers. Volume 107:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 591
• Page End: 605
• Publication Date: 2017-05-04
• Subjects: human migration distance -- mean population center -- nighttime lights intensity -- satellite data; 人类迁徙距离 -- 平均人口中心 -- 夜间照明强度 -- 卫星数据。; distancia de la migración humana -- centro medio de población -- intensidad de las luminarias nocturnas -- datos satelitales; Geography -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Geography; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1080/24694452.2016.1270191
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2469-4452

Abstract

Abstract : For well over a century, migration researchers have recognized the lack of adequate distance measures to be a key obstacle for advancing understanding of internal migration. The problem arises from the convention of spatially defining migration as the crossing of administrative borders. Because administrative regions vary in size, shape, and settlement patterns, it is difficult to tell how far movers go, raising doubts about the generalizability of research in the field. This article shows that satellite data on nighttime lights can be used to infer accurate measures of migration distance. We first use the intensity of nighttime lights to locate mean population centers that closely correspond to mean population centers calculated from actual population data. Until now, locating mean population centers accurately has been problematic, as it has required highly disaggregated population data, which are lacking in many countries. The nighttime lights data, which are freely available on a yearly basis, solve this challenge. We then show that this information can be used to accurately estimate migration distances.