The Dynamic Analysis between Urban Nighttime Economy and Urbanization Using the DMSP/OLS Nighttime Light Data in China from 1992 to 2012

Huyan Fu,Zhenfeng Shao,Peng Fu,Qimin Cheng

doi:10.3390/rs9050416

Abstract

Along with rapid urbanization, nighttime activities from places, such as restaurants, pubs and bars, and theatres, have created enormous economic and social benefits. The nighttime economy (NTE), as a newly developed social phenomenon, has been used to describe economic activities at night. However, few studies have investigated urban nighttime economy and its relation to urbanization from nighttime light (NTL) data perspective. To fill this gap, this study proposed a nighttime light economy index (NLEI). The correlation analysis was performed between the NLEI and economic indicators at both the city and provincial levels in China from 1992 to 2012 using the DMSP/OLS (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program/Operational Linescan System) time series data. Results revealed that correlations between the NLEI and all kinds of economic indicators were statistically significant. It was observed that both the urbanization and nighttime economy levels increased greatly from 1992 to 2012 in China. Cities and provinces in east China displayed relatively higher annual growth rates of NLEI compared to those in southwest and northwest China. Based on the quadrant map of urbanization and nighttime economy levels, most of the provincial capitals and provinces in east China were in the advanced coordination pattern while those in west China in the low-level coordination pattern.

Highlights

Since the reform and opening policy in 1978, the accelerated urbanization processes in China have triggered the soaring national economy
Similarity, to evaluate effectiveness of the nighttime light economy index (NLEI) to characterize NTE levels and to explore the relationship between urbanization and NTE, we proposed the composite nighttime economy level indices (CNEI)
The lowest correlation coefficients were found between the NLEI and the tertiary industry GDP (E1) at the provincial level (0.336) and between the NLEI and the percentage of employment in the tertiary industry (E2) at the provincial capital city level

Summary

Introduction

Since the reform and opening policy in 1978, the accelerated urbanization processes in China have triggered the soaring national economy. Despite the low temporal resolution, economic statistical indicators, such as the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and demographic variables, have been mainly utilized to assess urbanization levels in previous many societal and economic studies [1]. In this context, nighttime light (NTL) data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program/Operational Linescan. System (DMSP/OLS) provide a new avenue in mapping urbanization growth and economic activities at local, regional, and global scales from a long-term perspective. As such, shopping, recreation, and entertainment have been transferred into nighttime, resulting in a brand-new growth for the nighttime economy (NTE) which refers to economic activities occurring between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion