Tracking Dynamic Change And Monitoring Socio-Economic Parameters Of Algeria Using Night-time Light Data During 1993-2012

Local development in economy and rapid urbanization inevitably lead to the growth of light emissions from human settlements,which has become routine,for precise monitoring of social and economic development in any country in the world.In order to track the socioeconomic parameters(SEP)development in Algeria.This work proposed research based on using DMSP-OLS data from satellites nighttime light(NTL)observations in Algeria to detect sources of light emissions,from both human settlement areas and gas flaring from oil-extraction and natural gas production.We used the time series of data from DMSP-OLS images to examine the spatial and temporal characteristics of urban development in 48 Algerian provinces from 1993 to 2012.A systematic nighttime light calibration method improved the consistency and comparability of the DSMP-OSL images;Light detected from human settlements and light detected from gas flaring was separated in order to allow us to study human settlements without other light emissions,and to assess the suitability of using DMSP data and its ability to monitor gas flares in southern Algeria,Linear regression methods were developed to identify dynamic changes in nighttime light at national and regional levels.We compared the regression models to estimate growth in light at the pixel level,over time.This work is the first to use nighttime light observations to detect and monitor the development of human settlements in North Africa.In this study,we made use of DMSP-OLS data as means to take account of the years of crises,and locate the most affected provinces during that period.1)This research shows that DMSP-OLS data act as an index of growth in the economy during the period of stability in Algeria,following the results of Algerian Civil Concord(ACC,1999)and the Algerian National Reconciliation(ANR,2005),as expressed by positive dynamic changes in the lighted area in all Algerian provinces with national average of change more than 109%.2)We used the NTL data as an alternative to annual growth indexes for each province,as these data are often unavailable and then we located very huge growth range of the NTL which was in northeast centre of Algeria which are five Provinces:Setif,Bordj Bou Arreridj,Mila,M,Sila and Batna with annual of growth in NTL(AGNL)more than 10%.3)NTL data support socioeconomic parameters monitoring systems with very strong relationship,such as population at both level,national(R2 = 0.929)and provincial(R2=0.925,1998)(R2=0.970,2008),Gross Domestic Product(GDP)(R2 = 0.9355),Electric Power Consumption(R2 =0.9355)and Oil and Natural Gas consumption,respectively(R2 = 0.87,R2 = 0.86)and then fill the data availability gap.This work can be of benefit to the government for policy-making and equality problem between all Algerian Provinces in term of local development.This thesis also proposed the nighttime night data as a powerful tool to help control and reduction of C02 emission in gas flaring in Algeria and supporting government policies to stop these practices that are harmful to the environment.