Using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Imagery to identify and analyze light pollution

Light pollution is any adverse effect of artificial lighting including sky glow, glare, light trespass, light clutter, decreased visibility at night, and energy waste. Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon without making physical contact with the object. Remote sensing can be used for identification of light pollution. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the light pollution by using remote sensing imagery. This study uses VIIRS DNB Free Cloud Composites imagery to identify light pollution in Yogyakarta province and surrounding areas. VIIRS imagery which obtained is processed to get information of light pollution by classifying the information into several classes presented in a map. Selected few sample points as test sites to determine the actual condition. Field work conducted at theree location, they are Yogyakarta City, Depok Beach, and Gajah Mungkur reservoir. Night sky condition analysis conducted field tests as well as night time shooting the night sky conditions. Analysis of the night sky conditions are calculated qualitatively using Bortle Dark-Sky Scale with a value range of 1-9. Field test results show that Yogyakarta City has a value of 8, Depok has a value of 3, and Gajah Mungkur Reservoir has a value of 4. The conclusion of study is VIIRS imagery can be used for identification light pollution and calculation analysis of light pollution can use Bortle Dark-Sky Scale.