The remote sensing of nocturnal images from the ISS can contribute to environmental and socioeconomic studies

Abstract

The night-time images captured by the astronauts on the International Space Station represent a valuable source of information for all researchers interested in the study of light pollution. There is a significant advantage in using remote sensing data, because local measurements require too much time to cover a large area. We present this paper to make a relative estimation of the amount of lighting that is projected into the atmosphere in different cities of Mexico. The main purpose was to determine light pollution by geo-referencing night-time images obtained from the International Space Station. We can use the results in subsequent studies on the variation of night-time lighting conditions and their socio-demographic, socio-economic, and environmental relationships. This work interests lighting engineers, night sky modelers and public policy researchers who have a continuous need for sufficient data on the distribution of light intensity to enable better analysis and the establishment of regulatory measures.