Abstract
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.
Highlights
In recent years, the process of globalization has continued to deepen and the volume of international trade in goods has increased constantly
Accurate estimation of the cargo handling capacity can provide a scientific basis for the future planning and construction of customized and elaborate and efficient coastal ports, which plays an important role in further understanding port development status, exploring the spatiotemporal dynamics of ports, discerning the new rules of port development, and improving port competitiveness
The study was conducted at two spatial scales, i.e., three port groups and 28 ports, and the correTshpeonsdtuindgy pwaanselcmonodduecltpedaraamt tewteorsspwaetriaelosbctaaliense, di.eto., ethstriemeapteortthegrcoaurgpos haanndd2li8ngpocratps,acaintydatnhde ccoarrrryesopuotnsdpiantgiopteamneplomraolddeylnpaamraicmaentearlys swise. re obtained to estimate the cargo handling capacity and carry out spatiotemporal dynamic analysis
Summary
The process of globalization has continued to deepen and the volume of international trade in goods has increased constantly. Field research indicates that in order to facilitate day- and nighttime operation, the ships berthing at coastal ports at night for loading and unloading cargo, as well as those in the cargo handling area, usually keep their lights on. Li et al used the DMSP-OLS nighttime light imagery to provide comprehensive scores for port economics of major cities in the Yangtze River Basin [29] These studies are carried out around seaports and offshore areas, quantitative remote sensing studies on cargo handling capacity have not been reported. This paper attempted to fill this void by using DMSP-OLS nighttime light data to estimate the cargo handling capacity of seaports. Note that this product contains detections from fires and a variable amount of background noise This is the product used to infer gas flaring volumes from the nighttime lights (https://ngdc.noaa.gov/eog/dmsp/downloadV4composites.html). A series of pre-processing was performed on the light image
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