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High Resolution Population Maps for Low Income Nations: Combining Land Cover and Census in East Africa

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  • Andrew J Tatem
  • Abdisalan M Noor
  • Craig von Hagen
  • Antonio Di Gregorio
  • Simon I Hay

Abstract

Background: Between 2005 and 2050, the human population is forecast to grow by 2.7 billion, with the vast majority of this growth occurring in low income countries. This growth is likely to have significant social, economic and environmental impacts, and make the achievement of international development goals more difficult. The measurement, monitoring and potential mitigation of these impacts require high resolution, contemporary data on human population distributions. In low income countries, however, where the changes will be concentrated, the least information on the distribution of population exists. In this paper we investigate whether satellite imagery in combination with land cover information and census data can be used to create inexpensive, high resolution and easily-updatable settlement and population distribution maps over large areas. Methodology/Principal Findings: We examine various approaches for the production of maps of the East African region (Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania) and where fine resolution census data exists, test the accuracies of map production approaches and existing population distribution products. The results show that combining high resolution census, settlement and land cover information is important in producing accurate population distribution maps. Conclusions: We find that this semi-automated population distribution mapping at unprecedented spatial resolution produces more accurate results than existing products and can be undertaken for as little as $0.01 per km2. The resulting population maps are a product of the Malaria Atlas Project (MAP: http://www.map.ox.ac.uk) and are freely available.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew J Tatem & Abdisalan M Noor & Craig von Hagen & Antonio Di Gregorio & Simon I Hay, 2007. "High Resolution Population Maps for Low Income Nations: Combining Land Cover and Census in East Africa," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 2(12), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0001298
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001298
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    1. Catherine Linard & Marius Gilbert & Robert W Snow & Abdisalan M Noor & Andrew J Tatem, 2012. "Population Distribution, Settlement Patterns and Accessibility across Africa in 2010," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(2), pages 1-8, February.
    2. Sandra Moutinho & Jorge Rocha & Alberto Gomes & Bernardo Gomes & Ana Isabel Ribeiro, 2022. "Spatial Analysis of Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Europe: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-20, July.
    3. Daniela Palacios-Lopez & Felix Bachofer & Thomas Esch & Wieke Heldens & Andreas Hirner & Mattia Marconcini & Alessandro Sorichetta & Julian Zeidler & Claudia Kuenzer & Stefan Dech & Andrew J. Tatem & , 2019. "New Perspectives for Mapping Global Population Distribution Using World Settlement Footprint Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-24, October.
    4. Harwin de Vries & Joris van de Klundert & Albert Wagelmans, 2021. "Toward Elimination of Infectious Diseases with Mobile Screening Teams: HAT in the DRC," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(10), pages 3408-3428, October.
    5. Yanhui Wang & Jianchen Zhang, 2018. "Integrating BP and MGWR-SL Model to Estimate Village-Level Poor Population: An Experimental Study from Qianjiang, China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 138(2), pages 639-663, July.
    6. Zhongqiang Bai & Juanle Wang & Mingming Wang & Mengxu Gao & Jiulin Sun, 2018. "Accuracy Assessment of Multi-Source Gridded Population Distribution Datasets in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, April.
    7. Franz Schug & David Frantz & Sebastian van der Linden & Patrick Hostert, 2021. "Gridded population mapping for Germany based on building density, height and type from Earth Observation data using census disaggregation and bottom-up estimates," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-23, March.
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    9. Victoria Baranov & Hans-Peter Kohler, 2018. "The Impact of AIDS Treatment on Savings and Human Capital Investment in Malawi," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 10(1), pages 266-306, January.
    10. Eva‐Maria Egger & Aslihan Arslan & Emanuele Zucchini, 2022. "Does connectivity reduce gender gaps in off‐farm employment? Evidence from 12 low‐ and middle‐income countries," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(1), pages 197-218, March.
    11. Bosco Bashangwa Mpozi & Mireille Mizero & Andrew Ogolla Egesa & Paul M. Dontsop Nguezet & Bernard Vanlauwe & Patrice Ndimanya & Philippe Lebailly, 2020. "Land Access in the Development of Horticultural Crops in East Africa. A Case Study of Passion Fruit in Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, April.
    12. World Bank Group, 2015. "East Asia's Changing Urban Landscape : Measuring a Decade of Spatial Growth," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 21159, December.
    13. Karthik Balasubramanian & David F. Drake, 2015. "Service Quality, Inventory and Competition: An Empirical Analysis of Mobile Money Agents in Africa," Harvard Business School Working Papers 15-059, Harvard Business School, revised Oct 2015.
    14. Dmowska Anna, 2019. "Dasymetric modelling of population distribution – large data approach," Quaestiones Geographicae, Sciendo, vol. 38(1), pages 15-27, March.
    15. Bijak Jakub & Bryant Johan & Gołata Elżbieta & Smallwood Steve, 2021. "Preface," Journal of Official Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 37(3), pages 533-541, September.
    16. Hope Mwanake & Bano Mehdi-Schulz & Karsten Schulz & Nzula Kitaka & Luke O. Olang & Jakob Lederer & Mathew Herrnegger, 2023. "Agricultural Practices and Soil and Water Conservation in the Transboundary Region of Kenya and Uganda: Farmers’ Perspectives of Current Soil Erosion," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-32, July.
    17. Kathryn Grace & Nicholas N. Nagle & Clara R. Burgert‐Brucker & Shelby Rutzick & David C. Van Riper & Trinadh Dontamsetti & Trevor Croft, 2019. "Integrating Environmental Context into DHS Analysis While Protecting Participant Confidentiality: A New Remote Sensing Method," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 45(1), pages 197-218, March.
    18. Paul Bertheau & Ayobami Solomon Oyewo & Catherina Cader & Christian Breyer & Philipp Blechinger, 2017. "Visualizing National Electrification Scenarios for Sub-Saharan African Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-20, November.
    19. Willemen, Louise & Drakou, Evangelia G. & Dunbar, Martha B. & Mayaux, Philippe & Egoh, Benis N., 2013. "Safeguarding ecosystem services and livelihoods: Understanding the impact of conservation strategies on benefit flows to society," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 4(C), pages 95-103.

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