Publications Repository - Gdańsk University of Technology

Access to remote sensing night-time imagery allows for modeling of light pollution Increasingly, data on the propagation of artificial light are a source of interesting information for different fields of science and affect the planning of economic development. The article presents the problem of light pollution in the context of threats to the wildlife corridors in Poland. Wildlife corridors are areas that allow safe migration of animals. The authors outline the negative impact of artificial light on living organisms, which can be seen especially when we are able to trace the routes of migrating animals. In this study authors have used images in raster forms. These images represent the average brightness of the region of 1km(2). This composition called "Stable Lights Product", are cloudless representations of night illumination. Subsequent input data that were taken into account, were vector data containing information about wildlife corridors in Poland. Spatial analysis using GIS tools (Geographical. Information System) allowed visualization of areas that are potentially safe for animals and, unfortunately, are exposed to artificial illumination, which has a negative impact on the migration of animals. The results indicate a significant problem, which in recent decades has become light. pollution related to the strong development of urban areas. Seamless access to data allows low-cost analysis indicating where you should consider limiting the emission of light, which can be, for example, changing the type of lighting, reducing the number of its sources or stopping the process of the strong widening of the urban territory.

Authors

• dr inż. Katarzyna Bobkowska link open in new tab ,
• Artur Janowski,
• Katrzyna Jasińska,
• Piotr Kowal,
• dr hab. inż. Marek Przyborski link open in new tab