Night Time Lights Remote Sensing Methods and Applications

Scope and topics

Visible band observations of Earth at night provide complementary information to data from other electromagnetic bands. Artificial lights associated with human activity are particularly important, and numerous nighttime light (NTL) remote sensing applications have been developed using sensors such as VIIRS DNB and SDGSat-1. Among these applications are energy extraction and use, electrification, urbanization and urban extent, disasters (including conflicts), and their recovery. Additional major applications concern the study of light pollution in relation to ecology, epidemiology, and cultural heritage. Away from human settlements, observations based on natural sources of light at night (e.g., moonlight, airglow, and fires) can be used to improve understanding of Earth’s surface and atmospheric phenomena in times and places that have not yet been explored.

Night-light capabilities are rapidly expanding, including through recent acquisitions of instruments originally designed for daytime (Sentinel-2, EnMAP, CO3D, Pléiades Neo, and TEMPO). Night lights acquisitions are planned for S2-NG and have been proposed as candidates for both ESA Future EO (N8, EULE) and national missions (N8-DE). Night lights are also likely to provide critical information about human activities in foundational models. Furthermore, new sensors from commercial operators and space agencies on both space-based and aerial platforms (e.g., high-altitude pseudo-satellites) will come online in the coming years, expanding the range of possible remote sensing applications once again. This special session, therefore, invites presentations on all methods and applications of NTL remote sensing.

List of topics

• Impact of incorporating NTL in foundational models
• Population distribution, mobility, and activity rhythms
• Disasters, conflicts, and recovery processes
• Electrification, development, and blackouts
• Maritime surveillance, fisheries, and “dark fleet” detection
• Security, defense, and critical infrastructure monitoring
• Energy consumption, trace gas (CO₂, NO_x) emissions
• Extractive industry characterization (e.g. gas flaring, mining)
• Multispectral NTL and source identification
• Nighttime aerosol properties
• Impact of artificial light on atmospheric chemistry
• Natural light applications (e.g. airglow, fires, land and sea reflectance in moonlight)
• Radiometric calibration and cross-sensor harmonization
• Super-resolution and multimodal fusion (SAR/optical/hyperspectral)
• Uncertainty quantification and benchmarking
• FAIR/open data and reproducible pipelines
• Public health and artificial light exposure
• Ecology and biodiversity responses to artificial light at night
• Skyglow mapping, modelling, and mitigation
• Astronomy, dark sky protection, and policy evaluation
• Tourism, cultural events, and nighttime economies