Satellite Sociology: Interpreting Spatial Traces of Human Activity from Earth Observation Data

We introduce Satellite Sociology, a framework for observing and interpreting social processes using Earth observation data. The framework treats artificial satellites as devices that capture the material traces through which human activity becomes expressed in space. These traces are not limited to urban environments but include any spatial configurations shaped by human behavior, institutions, and economic processes. A central feature of Satellite Sociology lies in the definition of the unit of analysis. Spatial units—such as buildings, grids, or administrative regions—are not treated as neutral technical choices, but as explicit constructions of the social system under investigation. Different unit definitions yield different representations of social structure, enabling multiple interpretations of the same spatial domain. The framework interprets spatial patterns as observable traces from which underlying behavior can be inferred, and emphasizes the feedback relationship between activity and its spatial manifestations. Spatial configurations both reflect accumulated decisions and influence subsequent behavior, linking observation with process. To illustrate one application, we analyze urban space as an accumulated outcome of social decisions and examine its structural persistence. Using Shinagawa Ward (Tokyo) and Christchurch (New Zealand), we construct two building-level indicators: the Building-Level Vegetation Exposure Index (BVEI) and the Built--Vegetation Imbalance Index (BVII). The results reveal distinct allocation regimes and identify spatial configurations consistent with structural constraints on environmental redistribution. These findings demonstrate how satellite-derived spatial patterns can support inference about the processes that generate and stabilize spatial structure. Satellite Sociology provides a general framework for interpreting spatial data as traces of human activity and for linking Earth observation with sociological analysis.