Assessing development patterns and carrying capacity using nighttime light analysis: A case study in Greece

IF 3.8 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Remote Sensing Applications-Society and Environment Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI:10.1016/j.rsase.2025.101462

Michalis Koimtzidis , George Falalakis , Stavros Stathopoulos , Odysseas Kopsidas , Konstantinos Kourtidis , Alexandra Gemitzi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

In this work we present an approach for analysis of remotely sensed nightlights in order to determine the intensity and the spatiotemporal variability of human activities. Thus, the temporal trend and the seasonal and spatial patterns of the 326 municipalities of Greece were analyzed in order to recognize areas of intensive human activities either associated with urban or industrial activities and infrastructures which have low seasonality, or with tourism which exhibits substantial seasonal patterns. Comparison of the results with the Carrying Capacity for Development Index (CCDI) for Greece, highlights areas where intense economic activities are concentrated in areas with limited resources. Results indicate that most of the Southern Aegean islands, certain municipalities in Northern Crete, Southern Peloponnese and Chalkidiki, all popular summer destinations, are facing serious threats to their social and environmental balance and consequently to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), from the intensification of human activities. Those areas should be the focus of the local development plans of the country, in order to avoid further adverse impacts on the local population and the environment.

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来源期刊

Remote Sensing Applications-Society and Environment Multiple-

CiteScore

8.00

自引率

8.50%

发文量

204

审稿时长

65 days

期刊介绍： The journal ''Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment'' (RSASE) focuses on remote sensing studies that address specific topics with an emphasis on environmental and societal issues - regional / local studies with global significance. Subjects are encouraged to have an interdisciplinary approach and include, but are not limited by: " -Global and climate change studies addressing the impact of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, CO2 emission, carbon balance and carbon mitigation, energy system on social and environmental systems -Ecological and environmental issues including biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, land degradation, atmospheric and water pollution, urban footprint, ecosystem management and natural hazards (e.g. earthquakes, typhoons, floods, landslides) -Natural resource studies including land-use in general, biomass estimation, forests, agricultural land, plantation, soils, coral reefs, wetland and water resources -Agriculture, food production systems and food security outcomes -Socio-economic issues including urban systems, urban growth, public health, epidemics, land-use transition and land use conflicts -Oceanography and coastal zone studies, including sea level rise projections, coastlines changes and the ocean-land interface -Regional challenges for remote sensing application techniques, monitoring and analysis, such as cloud screening and atmospheric correction for tropical regions -Interdisciplinary studies combining remote sensing, household survey data, field measurements and models to address environmental, societal and sustainability issues -Quantitative and qualitative analysis that documents the impact of using remote sensing studies in social, political, environmental or economic systems