Using Night-Time Light for Technology Diffusion Analysis

Abstract

Satellite imagery capturing artificial lighting on Earth's surface during nighttime (referred to as Night-time Light, NTL) is another form of big data that could be utilized for understanding economic variance on sub-regional level and enhance modeling of technology diffusion in Egypt. This paper presents analysis that has been conducted to validate the possibility of using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) NTL imaging for Egypt as a proxy for economic activity on a sub-regional level. The analysis shows the strong correlation between NTL and the difference in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on a governorate level. Combining NTL with population data yield an inequality index slightly higher than published GINI coefficient (GN) for Egypt, but inline with corrected GC that researchers proposed after correcting participation of high-income groups.