Spatial assessment and monitoring of household electricity access and use using nighttime lights and ancillary spatial data: a case of Eswatini. Issue 3 (3rd July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dlamini, Wisdom M.; Dlamini, Lindiwe C.
• Is Part Of: African geographical review. Volume 41:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 299
• Page End: 317
• Publication Date: 2022-07-03
• Subjects: Electricity -- energy -- eswatini -- nighttime lights -- random forest; Africa -- Geography -- Periodicals; Africa -- Description and travel -- Periodicals; 916.005
• DOI: 10.1080/19376812.2021.1897023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1937-6812

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study develops models of electricity access and use in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) using census data on household use of electricity for cooking and lighting. Nighttime light (NTL) data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band sensor is combined with ancillary spatial datasets though random forest models to predict electricity access and use. The findings reveal geographic disparities in electricity access. Subsequently, electricity access maps for the years 2013 to 2019 were produced and compared to the official electricity access rates. This indicates that NTL data can be used for monitoring and spatial planning of electrification programmes.