Using remotely sensed data for census surveys and population estimation in developing countries: examples from Nigeria

"Using examples from Nigeria, this paper demonstrates how remotely sensed data can be used to acquire some of the basic data requirements for census surveys and to estimate population. The result obtained shows that visual identification of settlements on Landsat MSS and TM is more accurate and economical than equivalent digital classification techniques. Black and white aerial photographs were used to estimate the population of a model town and to establish EAs [enumeration areas]. The population estimation method employed can be used to obtain intercensal population estimates for the rapidly growing central places, while the established EAs for the study area have created a permanent base for future census surveys and census cross-validation, population estimation and other social surveys."     

Dasymetric Estimation of Population Density and Areal Interpolation of Census Data

This paper describes techniques to compute and map dasymetric population densities and to areally interpolate census data using dasymetrically derived population weights. These techniques are demonstrated with 1980-2000 census data from the 13-county Atlanta metropolitan area. Land-use/land-cover data derived from remotely sensed satellite imagery were used to determine the areal extent of populated areas, which in turn served as the denominator for dasymetric population density computations at the census tract level. The dasymetric method accounts for the spatial distribution of population within administrative areas, yielding more precise population density estimates than the choroplethic method, while graphically representing the geographic distribution of populations. In order to areally interpolate census data from one set of census tract boundaries to another, the percentages of populated areas affected by boundary changes in each affected tract were used as adjustment weights for census data at the census tract level, where census tract boundary shifts made temporal data comparisons difficult. This method of areal interpolation made it possible to represent three years of census data (1980, 1990, and 2000) in one set of common census tracts (1990). Accuracy assessment of the dasymetrically derived adjustment weights indicated a satisfactory level of accuracy. Dasymetrically derived areal interpolation weights can be applied to any type of geographic boundary re-aggregation, such as from census tracts to zip code tabulation areas, from census tracts to local school districts, from zip code areas to telephone exchange prefix areas, and for electoral redistricting.     

一种人口连续分布模型的研究

分析了常用的表示人口分布的方法及其不足，提出了将人口统计数据空间分布化的方法，将研究区域划分为一定分辨率的格网，用距离衰减函数将人口密度估计值分配到每个格网上，每个格网上的人口是均匀分布的，随着格网分辨率的提高，就可以模拟出符合人口说细分布的人口密度空间连续分布模型，并通过实验说明该方法是可行的。     

Mapping of wastelands of Kolar district using false colour composites of thematic mapper (TM) data

This study deals with the technique of remote sensing for identifying and deliniating wastelands in Kolar district of Karnataka. False colour composites of thematic mapper (TM) data supplemented by aerial photographs and toposheets wrere utiliesd for mapping wastelands. A map showing the geographic distribution of the wastelands in the districts was prepared on 1∶250,000 scales by compiling the individual wasteland sheets of 1∶50,000 scale. The seven different catagories of wastelands identified and mapped cover about 11.7% of the area in the district. A procedure for mapping wastelands has been worked out based on the experience gained in Kolar district which is a three phase system comprising image intrepretation of false colour composite of TM data, aerial photo interpretation and limited ground truth verification in the selected doubtful areas. This procedure was found to be adequate enough for mapping wastelands accurately in the shortest possible time with least expense and as such are recommended for mapping wastelands in other districts of the country.     

Spectral reflectance pattern study of some Indian landuse/landcover features

To utilize the full potential of multispectral data acquired from aerial photographs/satellite imagery increased knowledge of the spectral reflectance characteristics of Landuse/Landcover features are required. Spectro-Radiometer was used to collect the spectral reflectance values in wavelength regions ranging from 0.48 to 0.96 u m, of some Landuse/Landcover features, in Roorkee and its surrounding areas. Spectral reflectance values, thus collected, were used to draw spectral reflectance curves of each feature separately and to determine the optimum wavelength regions for identifying each Landuse/Landcover feature. The wavelength regions, in which two dissimilar Landuse/Landcover features exhibit nearly same tonal variation in B&W aerial photographs/satellite imagery, were also determined from these curves.     

Testing the Effects of Thematic Uncertainty on Spatial Decision-making

Dasymetric mapping techniques can be employed to estimate population characteristics of small areas that do not correspond to census enumeration areas. Land cover has been the most widely used source of ancillary data in dasymetric mapping. The current research examines the performance of alternative sources of ancillary data, including imperviousness, road networks, and nighttime lights. Nationally available datasets were used in the analysis to allow for replicability. The performance of the techniques used to examine these sources was compared to areal weighting and traditional land cover techniques. Four states were used in the analysis, representing a range of different geographic regions: Connecticut, New Mexico, Oregon, and South Carolina. Ancillary data sources were used to estimate census block group population counts using census tracts as source zones, and the results were compared to the known block group population counts. Results indicate that the performance of dasymetric methods varies substantially among study areas, and no single technique consistently outperforms all others. The three best techniques are imperviousness with values greater than 75 percent removed, imperviousness with values greater than 60 percent removed, and land cover. Total imperviousness and roads perform slightly worse, with nighttime lights performing the worst compared to all other ancillary data types. All techniques performed better than areal weighting.     

用SPOT卫星影像研究阿木尔林业局森林火灾损失

本研究以1987年5月30日接收的法国SPOT卫星标准假彩色合成影像为主要信息源,对大兴安岭阿木尔林业局火灾造成的林地损失进行了研究。文中着重介绍了面积量算方法、原理和误差;选取适量地面样地,用抽样统计和角规辅助目测方法计算蓄积损失并与二类调查结果进行比较;在影像上按火烧等级的判读结果、现地景观与烧死率─火灾的定量描述,及三者之间的一致性。结果表明,应用SPOT卫星资料,按本研究所介绍的方法进行火灾损失估计,可快速、经济地获得所需结果,并可满足精度要求。     

An improved procedure for detection and enumeration of walrus signatures in airborne thermal imagery

In recent years, application of remote sensing to marine mammal surveys has been a promising area of investigation for wildlife managers and researchers. In April 2006, the United States and Russia conducted an aerial survey of Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) using thermal infrared sensors to detect groups of animals resting on pack ice in the Bering Sea. The goal of this survey was to estimate the size of the Pacific walrus population. An initial analysis of the U.S. data using previously-established methods resulted in lower detectability of walrus groups in the imagery and higher variability in calibration models than was expected based on pilot studies. This paper describes an improved procedure for detection and enumeration of walrus groups in airborne thermal imagery.Thermal images were first subdivided into smaller 200 × 200 pixel “tiles.” We calculated three statistics to represent characteristics of walrus signatures from the temperature histogram for each tile. Tiles that exhibited one or more of these characteristics were examined further to determine if walrus signatures were present. We used cluster analysis on tiles that contained walrus signatures to determine which pixels belonged to each group. We then calculated a thermal index value for each walrus group in the imagery and used generalized linear models to estimate detection functions (the probability of a group having a positive index value) and calibration functions (the size of a group as a function of its index value) based on counts from matched digital aerial photographs.The new method described here improved our ability to detect walrus groups at both 2 m and 4 m spatial resolution. In addition, the resulting calibration models have lower variance than the original method. We anticipate that the use of this new procedure will greatly improve the quality of the population estimate derived from these data. This procedure may also have broader applicability to thermal infrared surveys of other wildlife species.     

Growing stock with aerial photographs

For assessment of growing stock, the role of aerial photographs mairly consists of volume class stratification, knowing proportion of various stratum and in providing layout for ground sample plots along with their precise location on the the ground. Plain Sal stratum was stratified into three volume classes on the basis of volume stereograms and standard deviation in each stratum estimated on the basis of reconnaissance data. 63 ground plots were needed for ± 5 cum (E = ± 5) accuracy for optimum allocation. Volume in 0.1 hectare circular plots was obtained from measurement of all trees above 10 cm dbh. The mean volume was 124 cum per hectare ± 9.55 cum at 95% probability level. A comparison with Working Plan figures revealed a close similarity. Advantage in time and cost for getting information on growing stock by the use of aerial photographs have been highlighted.     

江苏省盐城市建成区绿化遥感调查

此文主要介绍利用航空遥感技术对盐城市建成区绿化现状进行调查研究的情况, 通过工作基本查明了绿地面积与绿地布局, 研究了绿化指标, 了解了绿化效益, 获得了一些新认识, 为利用黑白航片进行绿化现状调查摸索了一套方法。此外, 文章对该市建成区今后绿化工作提出了一些建议。(1)参加工作的还有马万平、李宗尧、朱引, 盐城市园林管理处的刘根东, 胡碧海、吴相、贾昆参加了现场调查工作。     

Generating population census data through aerial remote sensing

For urban planning and decision making, exact information about population of a specific area is very important. In India, the population census is carried out after every decade by field survey. But to know the inter-censual population, field survey is not very appropriate method because it is not cost and time-effective. Remote sensing can help significantly in generating quick information about housing typology and housing stock, from which population data can be extracted with the help of limited field checks. Therefore, two techniques of estimation of population using remote sensing data have been employed for Saharanpur city as a case study and the results are very encouraging.     

Forest site quality assessment by aerial photo-interpretation case study of sal forests

93 black & white panchromatic aerial photographs of 1972 on 1:20,000 scale were used for assessing the site quality of Sal forest of part of West Dehradun Forest Division, by both direct and indirect methods. The forests were stratified into 5 height and 5 density classes and according to species composition. For necessary data for the assessment of growing stock, field measurements were made on 54 sample plots of 0.1 hectare each. This provided direct indication of actual productive capacity of a particular site. According to indirect method, ground vegetation was sampled in 54 quadrats of 5m x 5m each and has been classified into statistically sound vegetation groupings by normal association analysis technique. These groups facilitated the standardisation of their photo perameters. The indicator value of the plants in a grouping was used to assess the suitability of the site. This was substantiated by super-imposing growing stock, present at that site. By combination of the direct and indirect methods, sites have been classified into 3 categories i.e., suitable, conditionally suitable and unsuitable. Suggestions have been made for management of conditionally suitable sites and the cause for unsuitability of sites are explored. Hence, interpretation of qualitative attributes of vegetation alongwith the measurements of quantitative parameters on aerial photographs have proved to be useful for site quality assessment.     

Modelling housing unit density from land cover metrics: a Midwestern US example

Geographic applications frequently require the gathering and analysis of socioeconomic data. For many nations, these data are normally collected through a census. However, during the intercensal period (5–10 years), these data lose their currency and must be updated. The objective of this project was to estimate housing unit density from Landsat ETM+ imagery in the Terre Haute, IN, USA, region. Modelling was done for 1945 census blocks in the study area containing 30 972 housing units. Landtype, as represented by six cluster classes, was used as the primary surrogate for housing unit density. The percentage of each landtype within the census blocks was calculated. Other landscape metrics representing landtype patch dominance and diversity were also calculated on a per-block basis. Housing unit density within the census block was then modelled as a function of those percentages and metrics using discriminant analysis and multiple regression. The simple correlation between the observed and modelled housing unit density was 0.79. The mean residual error produced by the model was 0.37 housing units per hectare.     

Mapping of wastelands through remote sensing techniques and their reclamation—A case study

Wasteland map (1∶100,000) of Rewasa catchment (Sikar district) has been prepared using aerial photographs and Landsat TM imagery. Thematic Mapper data were helpful in identifying the types of wastelands and details could be derived from the aerial photographs. The types of wastelands identified are sands, gullied land, salt affected areas, and barren rocky area. Depending upon the nature of wasteland, suitable rehabilitation measures like plantations, afforestation have been proposed.     

ASPECTS OF COMPARATIVE AIR PHOTO-INTERPRETATION IN THE DYFI ESTUARY

In August 1966 aerial photography, using five film/filter combinations, was obtained of the Dyfi Estuary, on the coast of Cardigan Bay. The paper discusses some of the problems associated with a project involving several emulsions and in which photography of the inter tidal area must be achieved as near low water as possible. Preliminary results confirm that, in general, colour and false colour photographs improve both the speed and reliability of interpretation when compared to monochrome photographs.     

Modeling Ambiguity in Census Microdata Allocations to Improve Demographic Small Area Estimates

This article describes a methodology for allocating demographic microdata to small enumeration areas such as census tracts, in the presence of underlying ambiguities. Maximum Entropy methods impute population weights that are constrained to match a set of census tract‐level summary statistics. Once allocated, the household characteristics are summarized to revise estimates of tract‐level demographic summary statistics, and to derive measures of ambiguity. The revised summary statistics are compared with original tract summaries within a context of expected variation. Allocation ambiguity is quantified for each household as a function of the distribution of imputed sample weights over all census tracts, and by computed metrics of confusion and variety of allocation to any census tract. The process reported here allows differentiation of households with regard to inherent ambiguity in the allocation decision. Ambiguity assessment represents an important component that has been neglected in spatial allocation work to date but can be seen as important additional knowledge for demographers and users of small area estimates. For the majority of tested variables, the revised tract level summaries correlate highly with original tract summary statistics. In addition to assessments for individual households, it is also possible to compute average allocation ambiguity for individual tracts, and to associate this with demographic characteristics not utilized in the allocation process.     

Studying town morphology through Remote Sensing

Remotely-sensed data products have got unique advantage over conventional data-gathering techniques in the study of urban morphology. The physical parameters like built-up area density, street pattern, population density, urban structure as well as functional characteristics which can be derived from land use/land cover map, are clearly visible on aerial data products. This technique provides synoptic view of the area which makes the study comprehensive and uniform. Sequential aerial photographs and satellite imagery help in studying the growth of urban area and temporal changes in urban structure. These informations are very useful in the planning of city extension. Here an attempt has been made to study the urban morphology of Saharanpur city by using panchromatic aerial photographs on scale 1∶10,000, IRS-1B LISS II geocoded imagery on 1∶50,000 scale and photo-maps on 1∶4000 scale, and the results are very encouraging.     

Study of geology and structure of perungulathur area in thiruvannamalai sambuvarayar district,tamil nadu,using remote sensing techniques

Remote sensing technique can play a vital role in geological, geomorphological and structural studies. Geology and structure of Perungulathur area in Thiruvannamalai Sambuvarayar district was studied by using Landsat imagery and aerial photographs with limited field checks. Charnockite, which forms the country rock of the area, and the interbedded pink granite and amphibolite exhibit typical tonal and textural characters on aerial photographs. The study has brought out a partly exposed structural basin which is represented by the folded structure of amphibolite and pink granite within the charnockitic country rock.     

陕西神府煤田新民烧变区煤层自燃边界范围的遥感调查

本课题以可见光黑白航空像片为主要信息源,对陕西神府煤田新民烧变区进行了1:5万航空遥感地质调查,圈定了该区烧变岩分布范围及煤层自燃边界线。文中着重介绍了遥感调查煤层烧变区的技术方法与工作成果。调查区为煤层自燃死火区。调查首先从烧变岩的基本地质特征入手,划分了烧变岩的宏观类型,确定了烧变岩的主要形成时代,探讨了烧变岩的形成机理;第二,根据掌握资料选取已知区,研究烧变岩及煤层自燃边界线的影像特征,建立初步解译标志;第三,在全区范围内进行煤层自燃边界线的遥感调查,并对解译标志进行补充、修改与完善。在调查中,解译与调绘相结合,遥感与地面调查方法相结合,最终圈定了区内各煤层的自燃边界线,并经钻孔验证,精度达到要求。     

Environmental evaluation of medchal taluk,Andhra Pradesh using aerial photographs

The human interaction with nature in the form of improper exploitation and unplanned utilisation of natural resources has caused a lot of environmental imbalance in nature. The aerial photographs and other repetitive orbital remote sensing data provide valuable information in identification and surveying of such environmentally imbalanced zones. In this study the aerial photographs were used in identifying such vulnerable areas and some remedial measures are suggested for the planned exploitation of natural resources without damaging the environment.