Detecting the Dynamics of Urban Growth in Africa Using DMSP/OLS Nighttime Light Data

Shengnan Jiang, Guoen Wei, Zhenke Zhang, Yue Wang, Minghui Xu, Qing Wang, Priyanko Das and Binglin Liu
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Shengnan Jiang: School of Geographic & Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Guoen Wei: School of Geographic & Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Zhenke Zhang: School of Geographic & Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Yue Wang: School of Geographic & Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Minghui Xu: School of Geographic & Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Qing Wang: School of Geographic & Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Priyanko Das: School of Geographic & Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Binglin Liu: School of Geographic & Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China

Land, 2020, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Africa has been experiencing a rapid urbanization process, which may lead to an increase in unsustainable land use and urban poverty. Assessing the spatiotemporal characteristics of urbanization dynamics is especially important and needed for the sustainable development of Africa. Satellite-based nighttime light (NTL) data are widely used to monitor the dynamics of urban growth from global to local scales. In this study, urban growth patterns across Africa were analyzed and discussed using stable nighttime light datasets obtained from DMSP/OLS (the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s Operational Line-scan System) spanning from 1992 to 2013. We partitioned the nighttime lighting areas into three types (low, medium, and high) using thresholds derived from the Brightness Gradient (BG) method. Our results indicated that built-up areas in Africa have increased rapidly, particularly those areas with low nighttime lighting types. Countries with higher urbanization levels in Africa, like South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, and Libya, were leading the brightening trend. The distribution of nighttime lighting types was consistent with the characteristics of urban development, with high nighttime lighting types showed up at the urban center, whereas medium and low nighttime lighting types appeared in the urban-rural transition zone and rural areas respectively. The impacts of these findings on the future of African cities will be further proposed.

Keywords: DMSP/OLS; thresholds; nighttime lighting types; urbanization; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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