An image layer difference index method to extract light area from NPP/VIIRS nighttime light monthly data. Issue 12 (18th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jiang, Shuai; Li, Jia; Duan, Ping; Wei, Yadong
• Is Part Of: International journal of remote sensing. Volume 40:Issue 12(2019)
• Page Start: 4839
• Page End: 4855
• Publication Date: 2019-06-18
• Subjects: Remote sensing -- Periodicals; Télédétection -- Périodiques; 621.3678
• DOI: 10.1080/01431161.2019.1574993
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-1161

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Nighttime light data have been proven to perform well for economic measurements and built-up area extractions. However, the new generation of monthly NPP/VIIRS data series products, which collected from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) Satellite contains background values, which relatively restrict the potential application of nighttime images. Therefore, the image layer difference index (LDI) was constructed to obtain high-intensity pixels that have radiance mainly caused by urban light glow. In addition, an empirical threshold was used to extract low-intensity pixels. Thirty-eight counties in Chongqing Province in China were used as an example for this experimental research. To verify the accuracy of the proposed method, a linear regression model, which was based on the quantitative statistics of the pixels, exhibited the coefficient of determination R 2 values of 0.980 and 0.947. Considering the interrelation between the light intensity and economic level, statistical data of the county-level economy was also used for further confirmation; the R 2 values of the linear regression between the computed indexes were 0.924 and 0.909.