scholarly journals Uneven Frontiers: Exposing the Geopolitics of Myanmar’s Borderlands with Critical Remote Sensing

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1158
Author(s):  
Mia M. Bennett ◽  
Hilary Oliva Faxon
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Ethnic Cleansing ◽  
Border Crossings ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Illicit Trade ◽  
Official Policy ◽  
Nighttime Light ◽  
Complex Relationships

A critical remote sensing approach illuminates the geopolitics of development within Myanmar and across its ethnic minority borderlands. By integrating nighttime light (NTL) data from 1992–2020, long-term ethnographic fieldwork, and a review of scholarly and gray literature, we analyzed how Myanmar’s economic geography defies official policy, attesting to persistent inequality and the complex relationships between state-sponsored and militia-led violence, resource extraction, and trade. While analysis of DMSP-OLS data (1992–2013) and VIIRS data (2013–2020) reveals that Myanmar brightened overall, especially since the 2010s in line with its now-halting liberalization, growth in lights was unequally distributed. Although ethnic minority states brightened more rapidly than urbanized ethnic majority lowland regions, in 2020, the latter still emitted 5.6-fold more radiance per km2. Moreover, between 2013 and 2020, Myanmar’s borderlands were on average just 13% as bright as those of its five neighboring countries. Hot spot analysis of radiance within a 50 km-wide area spanning both sides of the border confirmed that most significant clusters of light lay outside Myanmar. Among the few hot spots on Myanmar’s side, many were associated with official border crossings such as Muse, the formal hub for trade with China, and Tachileik and Myawaddy next to Thailand. Yet some of the most significant increases in illumination between 2013 and 2020 occurred in areas controlled by the Wa United State Party and its army, which are pursuing infrastructure development and mining along the Chinese border from Panghsang to the illicit trade hub of Mongla. Substantial brightening related to the “world’s largest refugee camp” was also detected in Bangladesh, where displaced Rohingya Muslims fled after Myanmar’s military launched a violent crackdown. However, no radiance nor change in radiance were discernible in areas within Myanmar where ethnic cleansing operations occurred, pointing to the limitations of NTL. The diverse drivers and implications of changes in light observed from space emphasize the need for political and economically situated remote sensing.

Remote Sensing Image Mosaic Algorithm

2012 ◽  
Vol 500 ◽  
pp. 716-721
Author(s):  
Yi Ding Wang ◽  
Shuai Qin
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Remote Sensing Image ◽  
Processing Algorithm ◽  
Geometric Features ◽  
Image Mosaic ◽  
Post Processing ◽  
Remote Sensing Images ◽  
Image Pixels

In the field of remote sensing, the acquirement of higher resolution of remote sensing images has become a hot spot issue with widely use of high resolution of remote sensing images. This paper focus on the characteristics of high resolution remote sensing images, on the basis of fully considerate of the correlation between geometric features and image pixels, bring forward a fusion of image mosaic processing algorithm. With this algorithm, the surface features can be well preserved after the processing of mosaic the remote sensing images, and the overlapping area can transit naturally, it will be better for the post-processing, analysis and application.

scholarly journals Remote sensing of <i>Trichodesmium</i> spp. mats in the western tropical South Pacific

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (16) ◽  
pp. 5203-5219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Rousset ◽  
Florian De Boissieu ◽  
Christophe E. Menkes ◽  
Jérôme Lefèvre ◽  
Robert Frouin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Atmospheric Correction ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
Aggregation Processes ◽  
Modis Imagery ◽  
Generate Surface

Abstract. Trichodesmium is the major nitrogen-fixing species in the western tropical South Pacific (WTSP) region, a hot spot of diazotrophy. Due to the paucity of in situ observations, remote-sensing methods for detecting Trichodesmium presence on a large scale have been investigated to assess the regional-to-global impact of this organism on primary production and carbon cycling. A number of algorithms have been developed to identify Trichodesmium surface blooms from space, but determining with confidence their accuracy has been difficult, chiefly because of the scarcity of sea-truth information at the time of satellite overpass. Here, we use a series of new cruises as well as airborne surveys over the WTSP to evaluate their ability to detect Trichodesmium surface blooms in the satellite imagery. The evaluation, performed on MODIS data at 250 m and 1 km resolution acquired over the region, shows limitations due to spatial resolution, clouds, and atmospheric correction. A new satellite-based algorithm is designed to alleviate some of these limitations, by exploiting optimally spectral features in the atmospherically corrected reflectance at 531, 645, 678, 748, and 869 nm. This algorithm outperforms former ones near clouds, limiting false positive detection and allowing regional-scale automation. Compared with observations, 80 % of the detected mats are within a 2 km range, demonstrating the good statistical skill of the new algorithm. Application to MODIS imagery acquired during the February-March 2015 OUTPACE campaign reveals the presence of surface blooms northwest and east of New Caledonia and near 20∘ S–172∘ W in qualitative agreement with measured nitrogen fixation rates. Improving Trichodesmium detection requires measuring ocean color at higher spectral and spatial (<250 m) resolution than MODIS, taking into account environment properties (e.g., wind, sea surface temperature), fluorescence, and spatial structure of filaments, and a better understanding of Trichodesmium dynamics, including aggregation processes to generate surface mats. Such sub-mesoscale aggregation processes for Trichodesmium are yet to be understood.

scholarly journals Estimation of Cargo Handling Capacity of Coastal Ports in China Based on Panel Model and DMSP-OLS Nighttime Light Data

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aoshuang Liu ◽  
Ye Wei ◽  
Bailang Yu ◽  
Wei Song
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
River Delta ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Strong Basis ◽  
Cargo Handling ◽  
Panel Model ◽  
Nighttime Light Data ◽  
Nighttime Light

The cargo handling capacity of a port is the most basic and important indicator of port size. Based on the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-Operational Linescan System (DMSP-OLS) nighttime light data and panel model, this study attempts to estimate the cargo handling capacity of 28 coastal ports in China using satellite remote sensing. The study confirmed that there is a very close correlation between DMSP-OLS nighttime light data and the cargo handling capacity of the ports. Based on this correlation, the panel data model was established for remote sensing-based estimation of cargo handling capacity at the port and port group scales. The test results confirm that the nighttime light data can be used to accurately estimate the cargo handling capacity of Chinese ports, especially for the Yangtze River Delta Port Group, Pearl River Delta Port Group, Southeast Coastal Port Group, and Southwest Coastal Port Group that possess huge cargo handling capacities. The high accuracy of the model reveals that the remote sensing analysis method can make up for the lack of statistical data to a certain extent, which helps to scientifically analyze the spatiotemporal dynamic changes of coastal ports, provides a strong basis for decision-making regarding port development, and more importantly provides a convenient estimation method for areas that have long lacked statistical data on cargo handling capacity.

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal Differentiation and the Factors of Ecological Vulnerability in the Toutun River Basin Based on Remote Sensing Data

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 4160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qin Liu ◽  
Tiange Shi
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Land Use ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Cold Spot ◽  
Strengthening Effect ◽  
Land Use Type ◽  
Sensing Data ◽  
Ecological Vulnerability

Ecological vulnerability assessment increases the knowledge of ecological status and contributes to formulating local plans of sustainable development. A methodology based on remote sensing data and spatial principal component analysis was introduced to discuss ecological vulnerability in the Toutun River Basin (TRB). Exploratory spatial data analysis and a geo-detector were employed to evaluate the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of ecological vulnerability and detect the driving factors. Four results were presented: (1) During 2003 and 2017, the average values of humidity, greenness, and heat in TRB increased by 49.71%, 11.63%, and 6.51% respectively, and the average values of dryness decreased by 165.24%. However, the extreme differences in greenness, dryness, and heat tended to be obvious. (2) The study area was mainly dominated by a high and extreme vulnerability grade, and the ecological vulnerability grades showed the distribution pattern that the northern desert area was more vulnerable than the central artificial oasis, and the central artificial oasis was more vulnerable than the southern mountainous area. (3) Ecological vulnerability in TRB showed significant spatial autocorrelation characteristics, and the trend was enhanced. The spatial distribution of hot/cold spots presented the characteristics of “hot spot—cold spot—secondary hot spot—cold spot” from north to south. (4) The explanatory power of each factor of ecological vulnerability was temperature (0.5955) > land use (0.5701) > precipitation (0.5289) > elevation (0.4879) > slope (0.3660) > administrative division (0.1541). The interactions of any two factors showed a non-linear strengthening effect, among which, land use type ∩ elevation (0.7899), land use type ∩ precipitation (0.7867), and land use type ∩ temperature (0.7791) were the significant interaction for ecological vulnerability. Overall, remote sensing data contribute to realizing a quick and objective evaluation of ecological vulnerability and provide valuable information for decision making concerning ecology management and region development.

scholarly journals Detection of Urban Development in Uyo (Nigeria) Using Remote Sensing

Land ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Etido Essien ◽  
Samimi Cyrus
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Economic Structure ◽  
Natural Vegetation ◽  
Thematic Mapper ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Vegetation Loss

Uyo is one of the fastest-growing cities in Nigeria. In recent years, there has been a widespread change in land use, yet to date, there is no thorough mapping of vegetation change across the area. This study focuses on land use change, urban development, and the driving forces behind natural vegetation loss in Uyo. Based on time series Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM)/Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+)/Operational Land Imager (OLI) image data, the relationships between urban land development and its influencing factors from 1985 to 2018 were analyzed using remote sensing (RS) and time series data. The results show eight land use cover classes. Three of these (forest, swamp vegetation, and mixed vegetation) are related to natural vegetation, and three (sparse built-up, dense built-up, and borrow pit) are direct consequences of urban infrastructure development changes to the landscape. Swamp vegetation, mixed vegetation, and forest are the most affected land use classes. Thus, the rapid growth of infrastructure and industrial centers and the rural and urban mobility of labor have resulted in an increased growth of built-up land. Additionally, the growth pattern of built-up land in Uyo corresponds with socioeconomic interviews conducted in the area. Land use changes in Uyo could be attributed to changes in economic structure, urbanization through infrastructure development, and population growth. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) analysis shows a trend of decreasing vegetation in Uyo, which suggests that changes in economic structure represent a key driver of vegetation loss. Furthermore, the implementation of scientific and national policies by government agencies directed at reducing the effects of urbanization growth should be strengthened, in order to calm the disagreement between urban developers and environmental managers and promote sustainable land use.

scholarly journals Studying groundwater and surface water interactions using airborne remote sensing in Heihe River basin, northwest China

2015 ◽  
Vol 368 ◽  
pp. 361-365
Author(s):  
C. Liu ◽  
J. Liu ◽  
Y. Hu ◽  
C. Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Heihe River Basin ◽  
Heihe River ◽  
Resource Exploitation ◽  
Surface Water And Groundwater ◽  
Basin Scale

Abstract. Managing surface water and groundwater as a unified system is important for water resource exploitation and aquatic ecosystem conservation. The unified approach to water management needs accurate characterization of surface water and groundwater interactions. Temperature is a natural tracer for identifying surface water and groundwater interactions, and the use of remote sensing techniques facilitates basin-scale temperature measurement. This study focuses on the Heihe River basin, the second largest inland river basin in the arid and semi-arid northwest of China where surface water and groundwater undergoes dynamic exchanges. The spatially continuous river-surface temperature of the midstream section of the Heihe River was obtained by using an airborne pushbroom hyperspectral thermal sensor system. By using the hot spot analysis toolkit in the ArcGIS software, abnormally cold water zones were identified as indicators of the spatial pattern of groundwater discharge to the river.

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