Daniel-Zuta/Ghana-Night-Lights-Explorer

# Ghana Night Lights Explorer An interactive web application for estimating electricity access across Ghana using VIIRS nighttime lights satellite imagery and population data. **Live App:** Ghana Night Lights Explorer ## Overview This tool provides population-weighted estimates of electricity access at the regional and district level across Ghana. Unlike simple land area coverage metrics, this approach calculates the percentage of people living in areas with detectable nighttime lighting, offering a more accurate picture of actual electricity access. ## Features - Regional and district-level analysis (261 districts, 16 regions) - Temporal analysis from 2014 to 2024 - Adjustable light detection threshold - Population-weighted access calculations - Interactive charts (pie chart for access breakdown, line chart for trends) - Multiple basemap options (Grayscale, Dark, Satellite, Hybrid) - CSV export functionality ## Data Sources | Dataset | Source | Resolution | Year | |---------|--------|------------|------| | VIIRS Day/Night Band | NOAA | ~500m | 2014-2024 | | Population Grid | GHSL (JRC) | 100m | 2020 | | Administrative Boundaries | Ghana Statistical Service | - | 2021 | ## Methodology 1. Monthly VIIRS nighttime light composites are aggregated into annual median composites 2. A radiance threshold (default: 5 nW/cm²/sr) identifies "lit" areas 3. Gridded population data determines how many people live within lit areas 4. Access rate = (Population in lit areas / Total population) × 100 This population-weighted approach addresses a key limitation of area-based metrics. A region can have low land coverage but high population access if most people live in urban centers with electricity. ## Limitations - Night lights detect outdoor and street lighting, not household connections - Small or dispersed settlements may fall below detection threshold - Population data is modeled and may differ from census figures - Threshold selection affects results ## Usage 1. Op …