Population Density
EO Capability Benefits
Estimating population density and changes at the pixel level is essential for assessing the socio-economic impact of hazards and planning infrastructure improvements with a level of detail previously unattainable using population data available only at the census district or smallest administrative unit. Earth observation (EO)-based population mapping provides a new perspective on the global distribution of people, down to the pixel level. Once disaggregated to this granular scale, the data can be flexibly re-aggregated (i.e., summing the total population within a given area) beyond traditional census boundaries, offering a more comprehensive understanding of population patterns.
EO Capability Description
Population density mapping disaggregates total head counts for census districts or even national boundaries, proportionally distributing them across individual pixels as small as 10m x 10m. Whether a pixel is “home” to people can be determined by (a) its inclusion in a Built-up Extent, (b) its use for residential purposes (based on Land Use Land Cover), and, more recently, (c) Building Height (assuming taller buildings accommodate more people). This effectively provides a night-time snapshot of the population. The data can then be re-aggregated into coarser spatial units, such as building blocks or other administrative areas. The reliability of these population density estimates is largely dependent on the accuracy and recency of the underlying census data.
