We present the results of the analysis of satellite imagery to study light pollution in Spain. Both calibrated and non-calibrated DMSP-OLS images were used. We describe the method to scale the non-calibrated DMSP-OLS images which allows us to use differential photometry techniques in order to study the evolution of the light pollution. Population data and DMSP-OLS satellite calibrated images for the year 2006 were compared to test the reliability of official statistics in public lighting consumption. We found a relationship between the population and the energy consumption which is valid for several regions. Finally the true evolution of the electricity consumption for street lighting in Spain from 1992 to 2010 was derived, it have been doubled in the last 18 years in most of the provinces.
@article{arxiv.1311.6992,
title = {Evolution of the energy consumed by street lighting in Spain estimated with DMSP-OLS data},
author = {Alejandro Sánchez de Miguel and Jaime Zamorano and José Gómez Castaño and Sergio Pascual},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1311.6992},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
Accepted in JQSRT 26/11/2013 Light pollution special Issue