Assessment of Poor Regions in Hebei Province Using NPP/VIIRS Nighttime Light Composite Data

Abstract

This study aims to assess multidimensional poverty at the county level in Hebei Province in 2015 through a new method using NPP/VIIRS nighttime light composite data, and to put forward constructive suggestions for the government's policy on poverty alleviation. The eradication of poverty is a major mission of the Chinese government. Accurate measurements and identifications of poor regions critically influence both research and policy. Here we demonstrate an accurate and inexpensive method to assess multidimensional poverty from satellite imagery while reliable data on economic livelihoods remain scarce. This study referenced the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach and constructed the corresponding multidimensional poverty index system. Taking Hebei Province as a sample, it established the logarithmic model between the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) and the average nighttime light index (ANLI). The method of this paper can provide an important reference for the Chinese government to identify and evaluate the accurate poverty alleviation in the future. It is feasible to use nighttime light data to assess the multidimensional poverty of China. In the future, we can use nighttime light data to monitor and predict the multidimensional poverty in a long and dynamic way.